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BUCKSKIN 


FOSTER    &  FILER, 

Manufacturers  .uid  Dealers  iu 

MEN'S 


Suspenders,  Handkerch'fs,  Neck  Ties, 

Bows  and  Scarfs,  Linen  and  Pa- 

per Collars,  Cuffs,  Etc- 

Perfect  Fitting  Shirts  a  Specialty, 


UNDERWEAR. 

-^— ^-^— 

O". 


For  square  and  honest  bargains  go  t 

East  Washington  Street,  Indianapolis.    Indiana. 


NO.  27  NORTH  PENNSYLVANIA  STREET 

INDIANAPOLIS,    INDIANA. 

FEW 


THOMAS   DAVIS, 

President  and  Trtnmrt-r. 


ALFRED  T.  SINKER, 

Secretary. 


WESTERN  MACHINE  WORKS. 

ESTABLISHED.  1850.    INCORPORATED.  1871. 


SINKER,  DAMS  &  Co., 


Of  all  Si/e*.  from  Five  to  Vine  Hundred  Hnrse  Power. 


Of  different  sizes,  Double  and  Single,  with  the    •'  Sinniltam-ou-  Screw,"   "STALKY1'  or   "  MEI- 
XEI!  "  Patent  Head  Blocks. 

BELLIS  ENGINE  GOVERNORS, 

Adapted  for  Portable  and  Stationary  Kugin<-s. 

"SPECIAL,"   STEAM    PUJIPS*. 

For  Feeding  Boilers,  Supplying  Mills  aud  Factories,  Mines,  Gas  Works,  Railroad  Stations,  and  for 
any  purpose  for  which  a  Steam  Pump  is  applicable. 

Stillwell's  Lime  Extractors.  Sheet  Iron  Work,  Mill  Gearing,  Grate  Bars, 

Drag  Saws,  Brass  Work,  Wrontrht  Iron  Fittings,  Steam 

Gauges.  Water  Gauges,  etc. 

South  Pennsylvania  Street,          INDIANAPOLIS,  IND. 


INDIANAPOLIS. 


EAILEOAD    CITY, 


A.  CHRONICLE  OF 


Its   Sotial,    Ijlumeipsl,  commercial  and  juamifachmng  Jjrogress, 
*     rr         *-  3  ^j1-  T 


FULL  STATISTICAL  TABLES. 


BY  W.  R.  HOLLOWAY. 


INDIANAPOLIS: 

INDIAN APOLIS     JOURNAL     PRINT 

18  70. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  iu  the  year  1870,  by 

W.  R.  HOLLOWAY, 
In  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  District  of  Indiana 


F 
534 


PREFACE, 


THE  object  of  this  work  is  to  relate  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  business  of  the 
city  of  Indianapolis,  and  give  an  accurate  and  full  exhibit  of  its  present  condition- 
To  that  end  no  labor  or  expense  has  been  spared  to  collect  all  the  facts  that  might 
contribute  to  the  formation  of  correct  opinions  on  the  subject  by  the  public.  Every 
branch  of  trade  has  been  thoroughly  canvassed  by  competent  examiners,  and  the 
results  systematized  and  tabulated,  so  as  to  give,  as  nearly  as  possible,  a  full  view 
of  each  at  a  single  glance.  A  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  city  precedes  these  more 
particular  statements,  as  a  fitting  introduction,  necessary  to  a  fair  understanding  of 
their  significance. 

It  is  not  intended  to  be  a  detailed  account  of  all  the  incidents,  events,  move- 
ments and  efforts  of  the  citizens  during  the  time  of  the  growth  from  a  village  full 
of  trees  to  a  city  full  of  the  bustle  of  business ;  but  to  be  a  history  of  all  that  relates 
to  her  jrogress  and  prosperity.  It  is  intended  rather  to  generalize  facts,  and  relate 
results,  without,  however,  excluding  any  interesting  event  or  incident,  wheiher 
directly  connected  with  the  history  of  business  affairs  or  not.  Whether  that  object 
has  been  attained,  it  will  be  for  the  public  to  judge. 

Free  use  has  been  made,  in  this  portion  of  the  work,  of  the  excellent  history 
of  the  city  by  Ignatius  Brown,  Esq.,  in  the  Directory  for  1868.  It  is  as  full  a  col- 
lection of  all  the  facts  as  can  possibly  be  made  ;  but  such  a  collection  is  unsuited  to 
the  purpose  of  such  a  work  as  this,  and  besides  would  swell  its  bulk  beyond  all 
reasonable  limits.  The  present  work  is  directed  rather  to  use  than  to  repeat  his 
facts,  and  he  is  entitled  to  a  full  recognition  of  his  efforts  in  this  attempt  to  apply 
them  to  a  wider  purpose  than  a  Directory. 

As  no  similar  effort  to  exhibit  the  condition  and  prosperity  of  the  city  has  ever 
been  made,  it  is  hoped  that  this  will  command  the  interest  and  patronage  of  the 
public. 


'  1128440 


I3STID 


PAGE. 

AGRICULTURAL    SOCIETIES „ .. 49,  56,  94,  96, 109, 112,  275  to  278 

AMUSEMENTS  (See  Drama  ) 

AMES,  BISHOPS.  K 91 

ART  AND  ARTISTS ~ 32, 107 

ACCIDENTS 95,120 

ARSENALS 119,257 

•BIBLE  SOCIETY 30 

BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS   AND  SOCIETIES 50,  77,  85,  91, 126,  184  to  201 

BEECHER,  HENRY  WARD fiO,  67,  73 

BIGGER,  GOVERNOR  SAMUEL 73 

BUILDING  IMPROVEMENTS „ 36,  109,  116,  125 

BANKS , 63, 103,  107,298  to  306 

BROWN,  WILLIAM  J 90 

BLAKE,  JAMES 31,41 

BLACKFORD  ISAAC 41 

BAKER,  GOV.  CONRAD 

BOARD  OF  PUBLIC  IMPROVEMENTS :. 126 

COURTS 19,  91,  262  to  266 

COURT  HOUSE 14,  131,  259 

COUNTY  ORGANIZATION— INAUGURATION  OF 14 

CAPITAL— ORDER  FOR  THE  REMOVAL  OP 25 

CAPITAL-REMOVAL  TO  INDIANAPOLIS 28 

CENTRAL  CANAL 67 

CLAY,  HENRY,  VISIT  OF „ 73 

OASS,  GENERAL  LEWIS,  VISIT  OF 79 

CHURCHES: 

Protestant  Episcopal— 

Christ's  Church 60,202 

St.  Paul's 204 

Grace  Church 205 

Church  of  the  Holy  Innocents 205 

Episcopal  Mission ...„ 206 

Presbyterian — 

First  Church „ 96,  207 

Second  Church „ 208 

Third  Church 96,210 

Fourth  Church 100,  211 

Fifth  Church „ 212 

Olivet  Church 212 

Seventh  Church 212 

Missions „ 2H  to  216 

SSaptist — 

First  Church 216 

South  Street 218 

Garden  Mission „ 219 

North  Baptist  Mission „ 219 

Second  Baptist,  colored „.... 219 


jy  IXDEX. 

CHURCHES— Contintjed. 

Congregational —  PACE. 

Plymouth ~ - 220 

Mayflower . 221 

Christian— Christian  Chappel 222 

Second  Chrstian  Church  (colored) 222 

Third  Christian  Church 223 

Fourth  Christian  Church 223 

Salem  Chapel „ 223 

Olive  Mission 224 

German  Reformed — First  German  Reformed 224 

Second  German  Reformed 225 

Society  of  Friends 225 

Methodist  Episcopal — 

Meridian  M.  E  Church '. _..226 

Robert's  Park  M.  E   Church 228 

St.  John's  M.  E.  Church 230 

Asbury  M.  E.  Church 231 

Tiinity  M.E.  Church „ 232 

Ames  M.  E.  Church 233 

Grace  M   E    Church 235 

Third  Street  M.  B.  Church „ 236 

German  M.E.  Church 236 

Massachusetts  Avenue  M.  E.  Church 237 

Allen  Chapel  M.  E   Church,  (colored.) „ - 238 

Bethel  Chapel  M.  E.  Church,  (colored.) „ 238 

Roman  Catholic — 

St.  John's,  St.  Mary's,  St.  Peters,  The  Cathedral „ 128,239  to  241 

Hebrew  Church „ - ~. 110,242 

Lutheran — 

First  English  Lutheran  Church „ ~ 60,243 

St.  Paul's  German  Evangelical  Lutheran 244 

Zion's  Church 245 

German  Evangelical  Association 245 

Universalists — First  and  Second  Churches 246 

United  Brethren  in  Chritt „ 96,  247 

Pint  Unitarian 247 

Recapitulation 248 

Undenominational  Religious  Societies — 

Y.  M.  C.  A 102,  249 

Women's  Christian  Association 251 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  (German  ) „ 251 

Indianapolis  Female  Bible  Society 251 

CEMETERIES 

Crown  Hill 125,259 

City  Cemetery „ „ 79,261 

Hebrew  Cemetery 262 

Catholic  Cemetery 262 

Lutheran  Cemetery 262 

CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE 90 

CRITTENDEN,  GOVERNOR  J.  J.,  VISIT  OF 91 

CHOLERA _ 45,91 

CONVENTIONS _ .'. 62,101,105,106,111,121 

CITY  FINANCES .124,  138 

DRAMA,  MUSIC  AND  AUSEMENTS...23,  78, 79, 87,  96,  98, 101,  102,  105,  107,  109,  110,  129, 145  to  153 

DRAKE,  JAMES  P „ 81 

DRY  GOODS 89,  108 

DOUGLAS,  HON.  STEPHEN  A.,  VISIT  OF 113,  117 

EARLY  CONDITION  OF  THE  TOWN _ U 

EARLY  POPULATION '. 17 

EARLY  RELIGIOUS  SENTIMENT '. 24 

EARLY  IMPROVEMENTS 36,  6» 


TNDEX.  y 

EDUCATIONAL—  PAO«. 

County  Seminary • • 35 

Indiana  Female  Institute 60,  180 

Schools  and  Schoolmasters 61,  88 

Public  Schools 87,  108,  109,  163  to  178 

Indiana  Female  College 91 

McLean  Female  Seminary 98 

Northwestern  Christian  University 98, 179 

Indianapolis  Female  Institute 116 

Boman  Catholic  Schools 182 

Parochial  Schools 182 

German-English  Schools 182 

Business  Colleges 183 

*  EXPBESS  COMPANIES 96,  273  to  275 

FIBST  ELECTION 19 

FIBST  BBICK  BUILDING 21 

FIBST  METHODIST    CHUBCH  30 

FIBST  STEAM  MILL .. 33 

FIBST  STEAMBOAT,  ABBIVAL  OF 39 

FIBST  FOUNDBY 44 

FIBST  MUBDEB 45 

FIBST  BBEWEBY 48 

FIBE3  97,  101,  129 

FIBE  DEPABTMENT  32,  49,  66,  110,  139 

FOUETH-OF-JULY  CELEBBATIONS 20,  80,  105,  108,  111 

FBESHETS  (See  Meteorological). 

FBEE-THINKEBS,  ASSOCIATION  OF .. „ 279 

FENIAN  BBOTHEBHOOD „ 280 

GOVEBNOB'S  CIBCLE 13,  34 

GOVEBNOB'S  BESIDENCE   64 

GAS  COMPANY 93 

GYMNASEUM Ill 

GLASS  WOBKS 130 

HABBISON,  GENEBAL  W.  H.,  VISIT  OF 45 

HAVENS,  BEV.  JAMES 53 

HISTOBICAL  SOCIETY 41 

HOTELS „ 32,  70,  97 

HOSPITAL „ 104,129,  193 

HOWABD,  HON.  T1LGHMAN  A 73 

HABD  TIMES 73 

INDIANS,  DEPBEDATIONS  AND  OUTBAGES  OF „ „ 26 

INDIANS,  BLAOK  HAWK  WAB 43 

INCOBPOBATION  OF  THE  TOWN „ 44 

INTEBNAL  IMPBOVEMENTS „ 49,  51,  56,  67,  90 

INSUBANCE  COMPANIES _ „ „ 56,  294  to  298 

JOHNSON,  COLONEL  BICHABD  M.,  VISIT  OF 73 

KOSSUTH,  LOUIS,  VISIT   OF _ 97 

LEGISLATUBE,  FIBST  MEETING  OF .. „ 30 

LIBBABIES,  PUBLIC „..„„.. 269 

LAND  OFFICE,  BEMOVAL  OF .... „ .30 

LITEBABY  SOCIETIES .» 50 

LECTUBES 87,  96, 101,  106,  107,  109,  110,  112,  113 

LINCOLN,  ABBAHAM,  VISIT  OF 112 

.  MUNICIPAL  GOVEBNMENT » 44,  73,  84,99,  101,110,  132 

MANUFACTUBEBS 83,96,97,  130 

MILITARY  ORGANIZATIONS .31,  58,292 

MUSICAL  SOCIETIES 266  to  269 

MASONS.     (See  Secret  Societies.) 
MACHINISTS.     (See  Manufactures.) 

MABKET  HOUSES „. 44,  60 

METEOBOLOGICAL 45,  63,  83,  91,  96,  106,  108,  110,  113 

McCABTY,  JONATHAN ^~ _ ~~ ....72 


VI 


INDEX. 


PA6E. 

MILLERISM „ 75 

MEXICAN  WAK 81  to  88 

MERCHANT'S  EXCHANGE 90 

MEDICAL  COLLEGES „ 91,  252  to  255 

MORTON,  HON.  O.  P 116,  117,120, 121,  123 

MORRIS,  GENERAL  T.  A 117 

MILITARY  CAMPS 118 

MANUFACTURES  (EARLY) .«3,  96, 97, 130,  308  to  316 

MANUFACTURES  (PRESENT) „ 344  to  367 

NATIONAL  ROAD 51 

NEWSPAPERS „ 18,  81,  90,  91, 101, 109,  112,  154  to  162 

OLD  SETTLERS „ '. 11,  100 

ODD  FELLOWS.    (See  Secret  Societies.) 

PARKS „ 129 

PROGRESS  OF  THE  CITY,  GENERAL  VIEW  OF 3 

PLAN  OF  THE  CITY 13 

POPULATION 17,  31,  37,  84 

POLITICAL , _.48,  70,  100,  105.  106,  109.  113 

POST  OFFICE 17,  107,  115,  291 

POLICE „ 128 

PORK  PACKING 129 

PROSPECTS  OF  THE  CITY 316  to  322 

KAY,  GOVERNOR  JAMES  B.,  ANECDOTE  CONCERNING 27 

RELIGIOUS.     (See  Churches.) 

REAL  ESTATE,  EARLY  PRICES  OF 30 

BAILROADS,  FIRST  CHARTERS 41 

Madison  &  Indianapolis 69,81,  88,  324 

Bellefontaine „ 97,  326,  336 

Indianapolis  &  Cincinnati 97,  328,  336 

Jeffersonville  &  Indianapolis 97,  326 

Terre  Haute  &  Indianapolis 97,  328,  338 

Pe-u&  Indianapolis 97,  330 

Lafayette  &  Indianapolis „ 97,  330,  336 

Indiana  Central 97,  330 

Indianapolis*  Vincennes 128,  332 

Indianapolis  Junction „ , 128,  332 

Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis 334 

Indiana  &  Illinois  Central 128 

Indianapolis,  Bloomington  &  Western 128,  332 

Consolidated  Tables „ 340,  342 

SITUATION  OF  THE  CITY _ 7 

SITE  OF  THE  CAPITOL,  SELECTION  OF 9 

SUNDAY  SCHOOLS  AND  CELEBRATIONS ...38,  41 

STATE   HOUSE 42,43 

STATE  BANK ' 46 

STREETS  AND  STREET  IMPROVEMENTS 13,  73.  81,  85,  86 

SMALL  POX 104 

SCHOOLS.     (See  Educational.) 

SCIENCES,  ACADEMY  OF 110 

SMITH,  HON«  CALEB  B 112 

SONS  OF  MALTA 112 

SULGROVE,  B.R 116 

SOLDIER'S  HOME 119 

STURM,  GENERAL  HERMAN 119 

SANITARY  COMMISSION II9 

STREET  RAILWAYS 126 

SEWERAGE 130 

SECRET  SOCIETIES— 

Masonic «. 87,  281  to  284 

Odd  Fellows 99,  285  to  288 

Knights  of  Pythias 288  to  290 

Druids 290 


INDEX. 


711 


SECBET  SOCIETIES— (Continued.)  PAGE. 

Improved  Order  of  Bed  Men,  and  Independent  Order  of  Red  Men „ 290 

Sons  of  Herman „ 2901 

Harugari 291 

Heptasophs 291 

THANKSGIVING  PBOCLAMATION,  FIBST  ONE  ISSUED 66 

TEMPEBANCE 80,  101,  104,  265  to  257 

TELEGBABH  COMPANIES 89,  270  to  273 

TBEASONABLE  SOCIETIES „« 121 

TUBNVEBEIN,  INDIANAPOLIS 278- 

TUBNVEBEIN,  SOCIAL 279 

TBADE 368  to  384 

4?<'.       UNION  BAILWAY  AND  DEPOT  CO „ 90,97,258,334 

UNIVEBSITY  SQUABE „ 35 

UNITED  IEISH  BENEVOLENT  ASSOCIATION 279 

WHITE  BIVEB „...„„ „ 40 

WHITE,  JOSEPH  LITTLE 72 

WEIGHT,  GOV.  JOSEPH  A 91,94,  96 

WICK,  W.  W .41 

WALLACE,  GOV.  DAVID 66,  89,  100 

WATEB  WOBKS 112,  130,  281 

WAB  OF  THE  BEBELLION 116,  120 

WAE  EXCITEMENT 115  to  124 

WAB  APPBOPBIATIONS , ,.„ „,...,„ ^....123,  124 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PACK. 

RAILROAD  MAP  OF  THE  STATE FRONTISPIECE. 

STATE  HOUSE 1 

NEW  COURT  HOUSE „...       6 

STATE  AND  SUPREME  COURT  BUILDING 24 

MARION  COUNTY  POOR  ASYLUM 34 

ODD  FELLOWS'  HALL •. 98 

INDIANA  REFORMATORY,  FOR  WOMEN  AND  GIRLS 124 

BATES  HOUSE 138 

JOURNAL  BUILDING ~. _ 154 

SENTINEL  BUILDING 160 

SECOND  WARD  SCHOOL  HOUSE 162 

SIXTH  WARD  SCHOOL  HOUSE _ 172 

INDIANA  HOSPITAL  FOR   THE  INSANE 184 

INDIANA  INSTITUTE  FOR  THE  EDUCATION  OF  THE  BLIND 18<i 

INDIANA  HOUSE  OF   REFUGE 190 

FIRST  BAPTIST  CHUBCH ...  216 

CHRIST   CHURCH 202 

SAINT  PAUL'S  CATHEDRAL 204 

FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 207 

ROMAN  CATHOLIC  CATHEDRAL , 209 

MEDICAL  COLLEGE 252 

TRADE   PALACE 314 

NEW  YORK  DRY  GOODS  STORE 318 

NATIONAL  SURGICAL  INSTITUTE 340 

BOWEN,  STEWART  &  CO 352 


INTRODUCTION, 


General  t^iew  af  the  progress  of  the 


Eastern,  Southern  and  Western  sections  of  the  State  contained  many 
thriving,  though  not  populous,  settlements,  while  Central  Indiana  was  yet  a 
wilderness.  The  reason  may  be  briefly  stated  to  be  the  absence  of  water  and 
the  presence  of  Indians.  Though  there  was  water  enough  and  to  spare  for 
ordinary  purposes,  there  was  none  for  navigation,  and  civilized  men  hesitate  to 
put  themselves  beyond  the  reach  of  other  provisions  than  they  can  procure  with 
the  rifle.  Without  access  by  a  constantly  navigable  stream,  a  Central  settler  could 
never  be  certain  of  anything  better  than  unsalted  bread  and  venison ;  and  he  could 
not  be  certain  of  the  bread  if  he  depended  on  his  own  cultivation,  for  the  country  was 
still  in  the  hands  of  the  Indians.  This  is  a  second  reason.  A  settlement  could  not  be 
safe;  for,  though  not  hostile,  the  Indians  were  far  from  friendly.  The  Shawnees  and 
Delawares  had  not  forgotten  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe  or  the  death  of  Tecumseh  (who, 
by  the  way,  was  a  native-born  Hoosier,  his  birthplace  being  the  Shawnee  town  near 
the  site  of  Anderson,  Madison-  county).  This  region  was  their  favorite  hunting- 
ground.  It  was  full  of  game,  and  White  river  and  its  tributaries  swarmed  with  fish. 
They  disliked  to  give  it  up,  and  they  did  not  till  1821,  five  years  after  the  State 
Government  had  been  created.  But  having  agreed,  by  the  treaty  of  St.  Mary's,  Ohio, 
in  1818,  to  cede  it  in  1821,  the  actual  cession  was  anticipated,  and  settlers  began  to 
come  in  as  early  as  1820.  A  few  came  in  1819,  but  two  of  them,  the  brothers 
Jacob  and  Cyrus  Whetzel,  came  by  consent  of  the  chiefs,  and  settled  near  the  Bluffs 
of  White  river.  George  Pogue,  the  first  who  made  his  home  on  the  site  of  the  city, 
is  generally  believed  to  have  come  in  the  same  year,  but  it  is  questioned.  William 
Conner,  the  Father  of  Central  Indiana,  however,  had  established  himself  on  White 
river,  some  sixteen  miles  north  of  the  city,  as  early  as  1806,  and  had  made  himself  a 
comfortable  home,  with  no  neighbor  nearer  than  sixty  miles.  He  had  been  an  Indian 
trader,  was  familiar  and  a  favorite  with  them,  and  could  venture  safely  where  there 
was  danger  for  everybody  else.  He  and  his  brother  John  founded  the  town  of  Con- 
nersville,  from  which  point,  and  its  vicinity,  came  most  of  our  first  settlers.  Indian- 
apolis is,  therefore,  a  sort  of  colony  of  Connersville,  and,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter, 
had  to  depend  for  some  time  upon  the  mother  settlement  for  support.  In  1820,  how- 
ever, a  number  of  pioneers  planted  themselves  on  the  site  of  the  city,  and  from  that 
year  may  be  dated  the  beginning  of  its  history. 


4  HOLLOWATS  IVDIAVAPOLU. 

Before  entering  upon  this  history,  however,  it  will  be  well  to  present  a  general 
view  of  the  growth  of  the  city,  which  may  be  traced  through  four  stages. 

First.  That  from  the  first  settlement  in  1820,  to  the  removal  of  the  Capital  from 
Corydou  in  1825.  This  was  a  period  of  isolation,  and,  for  a  time,  of  struggle  for  ex- 
istence. During  this  five  years,  no  other  village  of  the  State  had  so  much  to  resist, 
and  so  little  to  assist  it.  It  was  far  from  all  navigable  streams  and  all  passable  roads, 
and,  for  the  first  two  years,  was  without  clearing  or  adequate  cultivation,  without  mills  or 
means  of  subsistence,  except  what  was  brought  on  horseback  through  sixty  miles  of 
forest.  Sickness  in  the  second  year,  which  prostrated  nearly  everybody,  made  its 
isolation  more  dangerous,  and  sickness  having  prevented  labor,  an  unpleasant  ap- 
proach to  starvation  followed  the  ague.  But  the  sickly  settlement  grew  a  little  larger 
and  a  little  healthier.  It  built  a  jail,  two  or  three  churches,  patronized  a  few  shops, 
and  two  or  three  of  the  inevitable  newspapers,  had  a  few  taverns  and  a  Sunday  school, 
and  showed  evident  signs  that  it  meant  to  live,  whether  fed  by  State  pap  or  not. 
Then,  though  not  free  from  fears  of  the  scattered  Shawnees  of  Fall  Creek,  it  was 
deemed  ready  for  the  Capital. 

Second.  The  period  from  1825,  when  the  Capital  came,  to  1847,  when  the  first 
railroad  came.  This  may  be  said  to  have  been  a  period  of  Legislative  dependence,  as 
the  possession  of  the  Capital  was  the  only  influence  that  raised  Indianapolis  above  the 
position  of  an  ordinary  county  town.  Its  central  situation  was  nothing  then,  or  rather 
it  was  a  drawback.  In  the  first  years  of  this  period,  the  recent  acquisition  of  the 
Capital  gave  an  impulse  to  the  increase  both  of  population  and  .the  price  of  town  lots, 
but  the  stimulus  was  lost  by  1827,  and  thenceforward  growth  was  steady  but  slow, 
dependent  on  the  settlement  of  the  surrounding  country,  strengthened,  as  before  re~ 
marked,  by  the  possession  of  the  Capital.  Towards  the  close,  the  expectation  of  rail- 
road communication  excited  a  spirit  of  enterprise,  or  at  least  a  feverish  feeling  of  un- 
rest, and  with  the  impulse  which  the  locomotive  thus  sent  ahead  of  it,  began  a 
new  era.  During  this  period,  business  was  entirely  of  a  local  character.  Some  little 
jobbing  was  done  to  country  dealers,  but  nothing  more,  because,  with  all  the  enterprise 
in  the  world,  nothing  more  was  possible.  Manufacturing  was  merely  for  home  con- 
sumption. All  trade  was  circumscribed  by  the  limits  of  local  demand.  Little  was 
expected  to  go  farther  than  a  farmer  could  drive  his  load  of  corn  and  get  home  the 
same  day.  Importations  were  made  in  heavy  road  wagons.  Exportation  in  return 
buggies  and  farm  wagona.  An  occasional  flatboat,  loaded  with  hay  or  chickens, 
went  down  with  the  spring  freshets  to  New  Orleans,  if  it  didn't  break  its  back  on  the 
dam  at  the  Bluffs.  An  annual  drove  of  horses  went  South  for  some  years.  Hogs 
were  driven  to  Cincinnati  or  Madison,  or  the  nearest  town  on  a  navigable  stream. 
Woolen  mills  spun  yarn  for  old  women,  or  made  jeans  for  country  wear.  Wheat  was 
ground  for  the  owner,  or  bought  only  to  grind  for  home  use.  Corn  was  distilled  or 
fed  to  hogs;  none  was  shipped.  Iron  founding  had  been  tried  twice  and  failed.  No 
business  was  expected  to  exceed  a  few  hundred  dollars  per  week.  In  this  condition 
of  things  the  city  would  have  remained  to  the  end,  if  the  railroad  had  not  reached  it. 
The  first  stirring  of  this  stagnation  was  made  by  the  slow  but  steady  approaches  of  the 
Madison  railroad  from  Vernon,  where  it  had  been  lying  up  helpless  since  the  great 
crash. 

Third.  The  period  from  1847  to  1861.  This  was  a  period  of  new  life.  The 
railroad,  like  "one  fool,''  according  to  the  proverb,  "made  many."  The  great  profits 
of  the  Madison  road,  the  obvious  benefit  to  the  country,  the  fully  restored  financial 
health  prostrated  in  1837,  with  a  score  of  lesser  influences,  combined  to  give  an  im- 


HOLLOW  AY'S  INDIANAPOLIS.  £ 

petus  to  railroad  building,  which  was  the  great  feature  of  this  new  era.  The  enter- 
prise thus  stirred  into  activity  showed  itself  in  all  business.  Old  branches  were  enlarged 
and  new  ones  were  established.  The  foundations  of  most  of  those  which  have  at 
length  proved  so  successful,  and  contributed  so  greatly  to  the  growth  of  the  city,  were 
laid  then.  While  business  was  putting  on  its  men's  clothes  for  manly  effort,  the  city 
was  doing  the  same.  Not  a  few  changes  were  made  from  the  village  character  of  the 
past.  But  this  activity  was  vastly  increased  during  the  last  period  or  stage  of  growth. 
Fourth.  The  period  from  1861,  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  to  the  present  time. 
What  the  war  might  have  done  for  a  town,  even  as  large  as  Indianapolis,  with  the 
muscles  of  its  energy  rendered  feeble  and  flabby  for  want  of  vigorous  exercise,  it 
would  be  hard  to  say.  It  would  have  brought  a  vast  increase  of  business,  and  brought 
out  a  vast  addition  of  activity,  but  it  might  have  taken  both  away  with  it,  too.  Indi- 
anapolis, skilled  and  strong,  vigorous  and  enterprising,  from  the  schooling  of  the  past 
fourteen  years,  was  able  and  prompt  to  use  all  its  advantages.  The  concentration  of 
troops  here,  with  the  immense  demand  they  created  for  many  kinds  of  supplies,  and 
the  flocking  here  of  business  men  to  meet  it;  the  increase  of  the  business  of  those 
already  here;  and  the  attendant  smaller  classes  of  trade  which  follow  any  crowd, 
maintained  through  four  years,  gave  a  strong  impulse  to  the  already  rapidly  growing 
prosperity  of  the  city;  and  created  some  such  feverish  feeling  of  being  able  to  do  im- 
possible things,  as  was  so  long  prevalent  in  San  Francisco,  and  still  is,  probably,  in 
Chicago.  But  the  advantages  were  generally  safely  held.  They  fell  into  strong 
hands,  and  when  the  war  passed  off,  and  its  impulse  was  removed  from  trade,  nothing 
was  lost  to  the  city  but  what  was  it's  gain — the  crowds  of  cormorants  that  followed 
the  camps.  Business  was  held  at  high  water  mark,  or  near  it.  In  the  five  years 
since,  what  little,  if  any,  was  lost,  has  been  regained,  and  a  vast  addition  has  been 
made.  The  growth  of  population  and  trade  in  all  forms  has  gone  steadily  and  swiftly 
on.  In  manufactures  especially  has  the  change  been  marked  and  promising.  At  the 
same  time  the  improvements  of  the  city  have  not  been  less  marked.  Whole  streets  of 
superb  business  blo*cks  have  been  erected,  and  miles  of  streets  paved  and  lighted. 
Handsome  residences  have  spread  outward  further  and  further,  till  they  crowd  up  the 
hunting  forests  of  a  few  years  ago,  A  system  of  water  works  is  in  process  of  con- 
struction. Business  that  used  to  swing  back  and  forth  along  Washington  street  as 
some  occasional  impulse  directed,  but  never  left  its  fixed  groove,  has  turned  out,  or 
filled  up  and  run  over,  into  a  score  of  other  streets.  All  the  features  of  a  well-grown 
city  have  supervened  upon  the  face  of  the  village  that  the  first  railroad  entered.  How 
far  this  development  may  continue,  or  how  it  may  terminate,  will  be  considered  in 
another  place. 


FIRST    PERIOD—TO 


Chapter   I 


-7IOX  OF  THE  CITY— SATCRAL  COSDITIOJI   OF   TO*  SITS — TH«   FIBW  8ETTLEB — BBGIJT- 

X!XG  OF  THE  TILLAGE THE  CATERPILLAR  DEADEXIXG SELECTION  OF  THE  SITE  OF  THE 

CAPITAL — -IMPULSE   GIVES    BT    IT   TO    TH*  SETTLE* EST FATHERS  OF  THB  CITT BICS- 

SESS    A5D    8TABVATIO5 BCBYBY    OF    THE   CITT   ASD  SALE     OF     LOTS — BECIJTSISG    OF 

BCSIXESS FIRST  DEATHS  ASD  MARRIAGES ORGAXIZATIOX  OF  THE  COCXTY. 

*&  N" BIAN  APOLIS  is  Eitnated  in  the  slightly  depressed  center  of  a  considerable  plain 
3|on  the  east  bank  of  White  river,  in  latitude  39°  5Y.  This  plain,  though  nowhere 
*  level  for  any  considerable  distance,  is  yet  broken  only  by  comparatively  slight 
elevations,  which  increase  its  attractiveness  without  swelling  to  either  the  grandeur 
or  inconvenience  of  hills.  It  lies  so  high  above  the  river  that  it  is  not  subject  to  over- 
flow from  the  highest  freshets,  and  never  has  been  overflowed-  At  the  time  of  the 
selection  of  the  site  of  the  Capital,  the  ground  was  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of 
oak,  ash.  sugar,  beech,  walnut,  hickory,  and  all  other  ordinary  forest  trees,  and  with 
thickets  of  underwood,  that  sheltered  as  much  game  probably  as  was  ever  found 
ranging  the  same  space  of  country.  It  was  traversed  by  a  creek,  subsequently  called 
"Pogue's  Greek."  after  the  traditional  first  settler,  and  by  two  or  three  bayous  or 
''ravines,"  as  they  were  called,  which  proved  a  frequent  cause  of  annoyance,  and  of 
occasional  serious  injury.  The  remains  of  the  largest  may  yet  be  seen  near  Carey's 
barrel  and  stave  establishment.  The  underlying  stratum,  consisting  of  sand  and 
gravel,  through  which  the  surface  water  was  filtered,  being  rarely  more  than  twenty- 
five  feet  below  the  surface,  formed  an  easily  accessible  reservoir  of  pure  but  "hard" 
water,  which  has  until  now  rendered  the  city  independent  of  any  other  supply.  But 
to  all  these  advantages  there  was  a  serious  drawback,  as  the  first  settlers  found.  The 
dense  forest*  sheltering  the  soil  from  the  sun  and  compelling  it  to  retain  its  moisture, 
the  broad  and  swampy  "bottoms,'1  the  marshes,  and  the  frequent  freshets,  made  it 
the  very  home  of  the  "chills  and  fever,"  and  for  many  a  year  their  visit  was  antici- 
pated with  the  unpleasant  confidence  of  a  debtor  in  a  persevering  dun.  But  the  soil 
was  excellent,  and  the  promise  of  a  -good  time"  sometime  undoubted,  and  the  pio- 
neers of  that  day,  as  of  all  days,  did  not  count  the  chances  of  chills  against  the  cer- 
tainty of  crops  and  future  competence. 

So.  into  this  land  of  remote  promise,  somewhere  about  the  first  of  March,  1819, 
tradition  savs,  came  George  Pogue,  a  blacksmith,  from  the  White  Water  region,  and 
built  a  cabin  near  the  present  eastern  end  of  Michigan  street.  Tradition  is  confirmed 
by  better  evidence,  but  unfortunately  contradicted  by  other  evidence  equally  good. 
Probably  no  question  of  individual  credit  and  municipal  history  was  ever  so  obscured, 
by  excess  of  light,  as  that  of  the  origin  of  Indianapolis.  And  the  obscuration  began 
almost  as  soon  as  the  town  was  begun.  George  Pogue  had  been  dead  only  about  a 
year,  and  the  town  was  only  two  years  old,  when  one  of  the  second  influx  of  settlers, 


g          .  HOLLOW  ATS  IKDIAlfAPOLrS. 

Dr.  S.  G.  Mitchell,  published  a  letter  in  the  Indianapolis  Gazette,  contesting  Pogue's 
claim  to  the  honor  of  being  the  first  settler,  and  giving  it  to  John  and  James  McCor- 
mick.  Cyrus  Whetzel,  who  settled  at  the  Bluffs  at  about  the  same  time  that  Pogue  is 
said  to  have  reached  this  place,  concurs  with  Dr.  Mitchell.  Mrs.  King,  the  widow  of 
one  of  the  McCormick  brothers,  now  living,  in  good  health,  and  with  apparently  unim- 
paired powers  of  memory,  concurs  with  Dr.  Mitchell  and  Mr.  Whetzel.  Her  evidence 
would  seem  to  be  conclusive,  for  she  not  only  had  the  opportunity  to  know,  but  the 
weariness  of  a  solitary  life  in  the  woods  to  impress  ineffaceably  the  memory,  that  she 
and  her  family  were  alone  in  this  section  of  the  State.  She  claims  that  George 
Pogue,  with  her  husband  and  husband's  brother,  and  some  others,  first  came  here 
about  the  time  of  Pogue's  traditional  arrival,  and  built  cabins  preparatory  to  the 
removal  of  their  families,  which  was  effected,  in  her  case,  in  January  or  February  follow- 
ing, 1820,  and  that  no  other  family  was  known  here  till  her  husband's  brother  brought 
his,  about  a  month  later.  Pogue  would  appear  from  this  statement  to  have  been  only 
one  of  a  company  to  "prospect"  here,  and  the  danger  of  traveling  alone  at  that  time, 
in  a  country  held  by  unfriendly  Indians,  is  a  circumstance  that  would  corroborate  it. 
Up  to  this  point  Mrs.  King's  account  of  the  settlement  of  the  city  may  reconcile  con- 
flicting claims,  but  no  farther.  If  she  is  right,  Pogue,  though  he  may  have  prepared 
to  move  out,  did  not  settle  till  some  time  in  1820.  The  evidence  for  the  McCormicks 
sums  up  with  a  force  hard  to  resist.  Dr.  Mitchell's  claim,  within  a  year  of  Pogue's 
death,  was  not  contested  by  anybody.  The  recollections  of  two  living  persons,  one 
likely,  and  one  certain,  to  know  the  truth,  confirms  the  uncontested  claim.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  evidence  for  Pogue,  if  not  strong  enough  to  convince,  is  strong  enough 
to  perplex,  us.  In  1822,  people  were  not  so  apt  to  rush  into  the  papers  upon  any ' 
provocation,  or  none,  as  they  are  now,  and  Dr.  Mitchell's  letter  may  have  been,  pro- 
bably was,  undisputed,  because  nobody  cared  enough  to  remember  whose  pig  pen  was 
built  first,  or  cared  enough  to  write  about  it,  and  not  because  the  opinion  of  the  vil- 
lage concurred  with  him.  The  tradition  which  has  always  made  Pogue  the  first 
settler,  has  never  been  weakened  by  accompanying  doubts,  or  suggestions  to  include 
anybody  else.  And  an  unimpeached  tradition  of  fifty  years  of  age,  is  no  slight  proof 
of  the  truth  of  the  matter  it  relates  to.  If  Dr.  Mitchell's  belief  had  been  that  of  hi? 
fellow-townsmen  in  1822,  we  of  this  generation  would  never  have  heard  of  George 
Pogue  as  the  first  settler.  That  the  tradition,  or  general  belief,  has  outlived  so  early  and 
public  an  attack  is  a  fact  that  will  weigh  as  heavily  in  a  just  estimate  as  any  per- 
sonal recollection.  A  mistake,  if  uncontested,  might  grow  into  tradition,  but  a 
mistake  caught  when  it  is  a  year  old  and  shown  to  everybody's  eyes  could  get  no 
credit  afterwards.  John  Pogue,  son  of  George,  who  was  a  well  grown  lad,  if  not  of 
full  age  in  1819,  and  well  able  to  recollect,  has  stated  repeatedly  and  unqualifiedly 
that  his  father  came  here  on  the  second  of  March,  1819,  nearly  one  year  before  the 
McCormicks  came.  The  contest  of  his  father's  claim  would  be  likely  to  stamp  the 
event  and  date  more  indelibly  upon  his  memory,  and  make  his  evidence,  by  that 
much,  more  important.  One  of  the  McCormick  children  of  that  date,  adds  his  recol- 
lection of  the  current  belief  that  Pogue  was  the  first  settler.  There  is  about  an  equal 
weight  of  evidence,  both  of  inference  and  memory,  on  each  side,  and  there  is  no 
reason  why  there  should  be  when  there  are  so  many  persons  living  who  can  add 
decisive  facts. 

But  if  Pogue  was  not  the  first  settler  he  certainly  was  the  first  martyr,  if  we  may 
allow  that  name  to  one  who  ventures  and  dies  in  the  cause  of  civilization.  Sometime 
in  April,  1821,  early  in  the  morning,  he  heard  a  disturbance  among  his  horses,  and 
believing  that  the  Indians,  a  party  of  whom  was  encamped  near  by,  were  stealing 


SELECTION  OF  SITE  FOR  THE  CAPITAL.  Q 

them,  he  took  his  rifle  and  set  out  to  see.  He  was  last  seen  near  their  camp,  where 
gunshots  were  afterwards  heard,  and  he  was  never  seen  again.  But  his  clothes  and 
horses  were  soon  after  found  in  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  so  that  there  is  no  doubt  of 
his  murder  by  this  squad  of  Shawnees.  His  name  was  given  to  the  creek  which  was 
then  a  horror,  and  has  ever  since  been  a  nuisance,  to  the  citizens.  So  cruel  au  outrage 
of  course  excited  the  little  settlement  intensely,  but  it  was  too  little  to  help  itself. 

If  Pogue  really  arrived  in  March,  1819,  he  lived  for  nearly  a  year  alone,  with  no 
neighbor  except  the  Whetzels,  on  the  south,  at  the  Bluffs,  and  William  Conner,  on  the 
north,  sixteen  miles  away.  But  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  February,  1820,  he  was 
joined  by  James  and  John  McCormick,  who  built  themselves  a  house  on  the  river  near 
the  present  position  of  the  National  Road  bridge.  Within  a  few  days  they  were 
followed  by  John  Maxwell  and  John  Cowan,  who  built  upon  Fall  Creek,  near  the 
crossing  of  the  Crawfordsville  road.  By  the  first  of  June,  these  first  five  had  been 
joined  by  Henry  and  Samuel  Davis,  Corbaly,  Van  Blaricutn,  Barnhill,  Harding  and 
Isaac  Wilson  (who  was  the  first  to  build  on  the  town  plat,  near  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  State  House  Square,)  with  others,  making,  it  is  supposed,  about  fifteen  families 
who  had  settled  upon  what  was  afterwards  the  "donation."  As  the  year  passed  on 
still  others  came,  but  the  first  comers  had  not  been  idle.  They  had  to  live  through 
the  winter  and  set  about  their  preparations  with  the  characteristic  energy  of  pioneers. 

In  this  duty  they  were  providentially  relieved  of  the  hardest  of  their  labor.  A 
tract  of  near  two  hundred  acres,  west  of  the  present  Blind  Asylum  grounds,  had  been 
"deadened"  for  them  by  the  locusts  and  caterpillars.  They  had  nothing  to  do  but 
•  clear  off  the  underbrush.  This  was  done,  the  brush  used  to  fence  in  lots  for  cultiva- 
tion, and  the  ground  broken  up  and  planted  in  corn  and  vegetables  for  the  winter. 
Game  was  plenty  and  provisions  were  thus  made  secure  for  all  ordinary  necessities. 
Little  more  than  this  is  known  of  the  history  of  the  first  year  of  the  life  of  the  founders 
of  the  capital. 

But  the  history  does  not  close  with  this  fact,  however  appropriate  a  place  it  might 
be  to  stop.  A  most  important  event  for  the  little  colony  occurred  in  June.  This 
was  the  selection  of  a  site  for  the  permanent  capital  of  the  State. 

The  "enabling"  act  of  Congress,  April  19,  1816,  donated  four  sections  of  unsold 
land  for  a  permanent  capital.  On  the  eleventh  of  January,  1820,  the  Legislature 
appointed  the  following  commissioners  to  make  the  selection :  t  George  Hunt,  John 
Conner,  John  Gilliland,  Stephen  Ludlow,  Joseph  Bartholomew,  John  Tiptou,  Jesse  B. 
Durham,  Frederick  Rapp,  William  Prince  and  Thomas  Emerson.  They  were  to  meet 
at  the  house  of  William  Conner  (above  alluded  to,)  in  the  spring,  and  make  their 
choice.  But  five  of  them  accepted  their  appointment,  or  acted  upon  it.  These  five 
traversed  White  River  Valley,  making  examinations  as  they  advanced,  and  very 
naturally  reached  conflicting  conclusions.  But  three  points  were  prominent  above  all 
others;  this,  (called  the  Fall  Creek  location,)  Conner's  and  the  Bluffs  of  White  River. 
The  discussion  upon  meeting  at  Conner's  was  warm,  if  not  worse,  but  the  month  of 
Fall  Creek  won  the  day  against  the  Bluffs  by  three  votes  to  two.  Who  the  lucky  or 
sagacious  three  were  it  is  now  impossible  to  say  or  they  should  have  a  conspicuous 
place  in  the  celebration  of  the  city's  birth-day.  The  government  surveys  had-  been 
completed  in  this  portion  of  the  State,  and  the  Commissioners  were  thus  enabled  to 
designate  their  choice  in  the  mysterious  but  sensible  gibberish  of  the  survey  office. 
They  reported  on  the  seventh  of  June,  that  they  had  selected  sections  one,  two,  twelve 
and  eleven  ;  and,  section  two  being  a  fraction,  enough  of  west  fractional  section  three 
had  been  added  to  make  up  the  grant.  Thus  the  capital  came  to  the  mouth  of  Fall 


10  HOLLOWAY'S  USDIAXAP&LU. 

Creek  or  near  it.  It  was  a  narrow  miss,  but  as  it  was  a  miss  we  can  hardly  speculate 
more  profitably  on  the  possible  results  of  one  more  vote  going  for  the  Bluffs,  than  did 
the  young  lady  upon  the  problem  "where  she  would  have  been  if  her  father  had  not 
married  her  mother?" 

The  SKCOXD  YEAR  of  the  town's  existence  began  with  the  act  to  lay  it  off  and  name 
it.  On  the  sixth  of  January,  1821,  the  Legislature  confirmed  the  choice  made  by  the 
Commissioners,  and  called  the  new-born  city  IXDIAXAPOLIS.  The  etymology  of  this 
name  is  evident  enough  and  its  propriety  is  indisputable,  but  it  is  not  generlly  known 
to  whom  the  city  is  indebted  for  it.  In  the  Legislative  Committee  which  prepared  the 
bill  of  confirmation  the  point  was  settled,  and  Judge  Jeremiah  Sullivan,  of  Jefferson 
county,  formerly  of  the  State  Supreme  Court,  suggested  the  name.  In  a  letter  replying 
to  the  inquiries  of  Governor  Baker  (kindly  made  at  the  suggestion  of  the  author,) 
Judge  Sullivan  give-s  the  following  interesting  account  of  the  christening  of  the 
capital : 

"I  have  a  very  distinct  recollection  of  the  great  diversity  of  opinion  that  pre- 
vailed as  to  the  name  by  which  the  new  town  should  receive  Legislative  baptism. 
The  bill  (if  I  remember  aright)  was  reported  by  Judge  Polk,  and  was  in  the  main, 
very  acceptable.  A  blank,  of  course,  was  left  for  the  name  of  the  town  that  was  to 
become  the  seat  of  government,  and  during  the  two  or  three  days  we  spent  in  en- 
deavoring to  fill  the  blank  there  was  in  the  debate  some  sharpness  and  much  amuse- 
ment. 

"General  Marston  G.  Clark,  of  Washington  county,  proposed  'Tecumseh'  as  the 
name,  and  very  earnestly  insisted  upon  its  adoption.  When  it  failed  he  suggested 
other  Indian  names,  which  I  have  forgotten.  They  all  were  rejected.  A  member 
proposed  'Suwarrow,'  which  met  with  no  favor.  Other  names  were  proposed,  dis- 
cussed, laughed  at,  and  voted  down,  and  the  house  without  coming  to  any  agreement, 
adjourned  until  the  next  day.  There  were  many  amusing  things  said,  but  my  remem- 
brance of  them  is  not  sufficiently  distinct  to  state  them  with  accuracy. 

"  I  had  gone  to  Corydon  with  the  intention  of  proposing  Indianapolis  as  the  name 
of  the  town,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  adjournment  above  mentioned,  or  the  next 
morning,  I  suggested  to  Mr.  Samuel  Merrill,  the  representative  from  Switzerland 
county,  the  name  I  proposed.  He  at  once  adopted  it  and  said  he  would  support  it. 
We,  together,  called  on  Governor  Jennings,  who  had  been  a  witness  of  the  amusing 
proceedings  of  the  day  previous,  and  told  him  what  conclusion  we  had  come  to,  and 
asked  him  what  he  thought  of  the  name.  He  gave  us  to  understand  that  he  favored 
it,  and  that  he  would  not  hesitate  to  so  express  himself.  When  the  House  met  and 
went  into  convention  on  the  bill,  I  moved  to  fill  the  blank  with  Indianapolis.  The 
name  created  quite  a  laugh.  Mr.  Merrill,  however,  seconded  the  motion.  We  dis- 
cussed the  matter  fully ;  gave  our  reasons  in  support  of  the  proposition ;  the  members 
conversed  with  each  other  informally  in  regard  to  it,  and  the  name  gradually  com- 
mended itself  to  the  committee,  and  was  accepted.  The  principal  reason  given  in 
favor  of  adopting  the  name  proposed,  to  wit :  that  the  Greek  termination  would  indi- 
cate to  all  the  world  the  locality  of  the  town,  was,  I  am  sure,  the  reason  that  over- 
came the  opposition  to  the  name.  The  town  was  finally  named  Indianapolis,  with 
but  little,  if  any,  opposition."  Indiana— polis, — the  city  of  Indiana, — is  a  good 
name,  and  likely  to  be  known  as  that  of  the  largest  inland  city  in  the  Union. 

Christopher  Harrison,  James  Jones  and  Samuel  P.  Booker,  were,  by  the  same  act, 
appointed  Commissioners  to  "lay  off"  the  town,  and  directed  to  meet  here  on  the  first 
Monday  of  April,  appoint  two  surveyors  and  a  clerk,  make  a  survey  and  two  maps,  and 


INFLUX  OF  "  OLD  SETTLERS."  H 

advertise  and  sell  the  alternate  lots  as  soon  as  practicable,  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  to 
constitute  a  building  fund. 

The  effect  of  this  selection,  and  its  confirmation,  was  to  add  largely  to  the  slender 
population  of  the  metropolis,  and  to  bring  in  not  a  few  of  those  who  still  lire  honored 
among  us  or  hare  left  honored  names  and  representatives  behind  them.  Before  the 
lot  sales  took  place,  or  soon  after,  there  came  Morris  Morris,  Dr.  S.  G.  Mitchell,  John 
Given,  James  Given,  James  M.  Ray,  Matthias  R.  Nowland,  Nathaniel  Cox,  John 
Hawkins,  Dr.  L.  Dunlap,  David  Wood,  Daniel  Yandes,  Alexander  Ralston,  Dr.  Isaac 
Coe,  Douglas  Maguire,  Obed  Foote,  Calvin  Fletcher,  James  Blake,  Alexander  W. 
Russell,  Caleb  Scudder,  Nicholas  McCarty,  George  Smith,  Nathaniel  Bolton,  Wilkes 
Reagan,  James  Paxton,  Samuel  Henderson,  and  others  less  known.  They  came  in 
nearly  equal  proportions  from  the  south  and  east,  or  "  Kentucky  and  Whitewater, " 
as  the  divisions  were  then  called.  A  population  of  some  hundreds  had  been  gathered 
by  the  fall,  and  the  village  might  be  said  to  have  fairly  entered  upon  its  career. 

The  history  of  that  first  year,  with  a  name,  is  a  history  of  many  annoyances,  much 
suffering  and  much  manly  and  noble  exertion.  A  very  wet  summer  aided  the  natural 
miasm  of  the  region  to  produce  such  a  general  distribution  of  the  chills  and  fever  that 
but  three  persons  out  of  the  whole  population  escaped.  Though  severe,  the  visitation 
was  rarely  fatal  to  the  settlers,  though  it  came  near  proving  so  to  the  settlement- 
For  rumor  flew  abroad  with  the  news  and  dropped  perilous  exaggerations  everewhere. 
But  the  city  outlived  them  as  the  citizens  outlived  their  cause.  An  unfortunate  result 
of  the  general  prostration  was  that  nobody  had  been  able  to  keep  up  the  cultivation 
of  the  "caterpillar  deadening,"  and  when  the  bright  days  of  October  brought  return- 
ing health  it  brought  also  starvation.  There  was  no  mill  and  nothing  to  grind  if 
there  had  been  one.  Game  alone  was  poor  eating.  Flour  or  meal  could  only  be  had 
by  packing  it  on  horses  from  the  Whitewater,  sixty  miles  off,  through  a  pathless  wil- 
derness. But  the  courage  of  the  settlers  rallied  to  the  work,  and  a  system  of  horse 
transportation  was  established  which  furnished  a  meagre  supply,  eked  out  by  the  pur. 
chase  of  corn  from  the  Indians  up  the  river,  which  was  brought  down  in  boats. 

The  "  social  -events  "of  the  year  were  the  birth  of  a  child  to  Mr.  Harding,  who 
was  given  the  name  of  Mordecai,  and  he  "still  lives,"  hearty  and  vigorous.  This  is 
claimed  by  some  to  be  the  first  birth  in  Indianapolis  ;  others  claim  the  honor  for  a  son 
of  Mr.  Corbaly.  The  other,  even  more  interesting  event,  was  the  marriage  of  Jere- 
miah Johnson,  to  Miss  Jane  Reagan,  the  first  marriage  in  Indianapolis.  An-d  it  would 
be  memorable  if  it  were  the  last  in  last  week's  list  in  the  daily  papers.  For  the  gallant 
Jerry,  with  a  devotion  unknown  in  these  degenerate  days,  walked  to  Connersville, 
sixty  miles,  for  his  marriage  license,  for  Indianapolis  was  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
mother  settlement  as  yet.  And  then  he  had  to  wait  some  weeks  for  a  preacher  to 
perform  the  ceremony.  The  first  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  John  McClung,  a 
"New  Light,"  in  what  was  afterwards  the  circle  grove. 

Business  received  a  start  during  the  year  by  the  establishment  of  a  store  on  the 
south  bank  of  Pogue's  Creek,  in  March,  1821,  by  Daniel  Shaffer,  who  died  in  June 
following.  John  and  James  Given  and  John  T.  Osborn  followed  in  the  same  line, 
near  the  river,  and  later  Luke  Walpole,  Mr.  Wilmot  and  Jeremiah  Johnson,  began 
business.  James  Linton  built  a  saw  mill  on  Fall  Creek  just  above  the  Crawfordsville 
road, — some  of  the  timbers  are  still  standing — and  a  grist  mill  for  Isaac  Wilson,  on 
the  same  stream  near  where  the  old  "  Patterson  Mill "  was.  It  had  no  "  bolt  "  how- 
ever, and  its  flour  had  to  be  sifted — a  very  common  necessity  in  those  days,  in  the 
backwoods.  James  Blake  put  up  the  first  frame  and  plastered  house,  just  east  of 
where  the  Masonic  Hall  now  stands.  Carter,  Hopkins  and  Nowland,  all  had  set  up 


J2  SOLLOWATS  1SDIASAPOLIS. 

t-averns,  and  Joseph  C.  Read  opened  a  school.  The  first  market  was  held  in  the 
circle.  And  thus  the  metropolis  started  in  business. 

One  very  serious  annoyance  to  which  the  citizens  were  subjected  was  the  mainte- 
nance of  the  jurisdiction  of  Connersville  over  them  as  a  part  of  Delaware  County, 
which  embraced  all  the  centre  and  north  of  the  State,  and  was  attached  for  judicial 
purposes  to  the  White  Water  jurisdiction.  Every  case  had  to  be  tried  on  the  White 
Water,  and  the  expenses  of  attendance  would  eat  up  any  ordinary  demand.  Probably 
the  effect  was  beneficial  in  repressing  litigation.  But  it  was  more  serious  in  criminal 
cases,  for  prisoners  could  not  well  be  taken  sixty  miles  through  the  woods  for  trial 
without  allowing  them  many  chances  of  escape.  To  obviate  these  difficulties  the 
Legislature,  in  January,  1821,  authorized  the  appointment  of  two  justices  of  the 
peace  for  the  New  Purchase,  with  an  appeal  to  the  Bartholomew  Court.  Under  this 
authority  Governor  Jennings  appointed  John  Maxwell,  but  after  a  few  month's  service 
he  resigned,  and  James  Mcllvain  was  elected  by  the  people  and  commissioned  by  the 
Governor.  Calvin  Fletcher,  who  arrived  in  the  fall  of  1821,  was  the  only  lawyer, 
luckily,  or  conflict  might  have  made  litigation.  As  it  was  Mr.  Fletcher  was  virtually 
the  squire,  and  a  wise  one.  Having  no  jail  the  citizens  had  no  better  policy  to  pursue 
towards  dangerous  or  troublesome  offenders  than  to  scare  them  off,  and  this  they 
practiced  with  good  effect. 

An  amusing  incident  is  related  by  Mr.  Brown  in  illustration.  Four  Kentucky 
boatmen  came  from  the  Bluffs  to  Indianapolis  for  a  Christmas  frolic.  They  soon  got 
drunk  enough  to  be  riotous,  and  began  tearing  down  a  little  shanty  of  a  goggery 
kept  by  Daniel  Larkins.  The  interference  of  the  citizens  was  repelled  with  violent 
threats  which  drove  them  off.  But  the  grocery  was  a  vital  institution,  and  the  laws 
must  not  be  outraged,  so  after  consultation  it  was  determined  to  take  the  rioters  at 
all  hazards.  James  Blake,  who  seems  to  have  been  a  leader  in  all  enterprises  of 
"pith  and  moment,"  proposed  to  take  the  biggest  and  boldest  himself  if  his  associates 
.would  take  the  other  three.  It  was  agreed  to  and  the  capture  effected.  The  prisoners 
were  taken  before  Squire  Mcllvain,  who  fined  them  heavily,  and  in  default  of  payment 
ordered  them  to  the  Connersville  jail.  The  idea  of  being  taken  sixty  miles,  in  the 
dead  of  winter  through,  an  unbroken  wilderness,  was  too  much  for  their  courage,  and 
they  made  their  escape  in  the  night,  the  guard  understanding  that  that  was  exactly 
what  was  wanted. 

Running  along  with  this  current  of  social  events  and  progress  in  1821.  was  the 
laying  out  and  formal  founding  of  the  capital. 

The  Commissioners  appointed  by  the  Legislature  to  survey  the  donation,  make  a 
plat  of  the  proposed  city,  and  sell  the  alternate  lots,  did  not  meet  on  the  first  Monday 
of  April  as  ordered.  Only  Judge  Christopher  Harrison  attended.  But  he  proceeded 
at  once  to  execute  the  order.  He  appointed  Elias  P.  Fordham  and  Alexander  Ralston, 
surveyors,  and  Benjamin  I.  Blythe,  clerk.  Mr.  Blythe,  who  became  a  resident  of  the 
place  and  was  afterwards  agent  for  the  sale  of  lots,  was  well  known  to  all  old  resi- 
dents. Ralston  was  a  resident  also,  and  seems  to  have  been  the  active  and  controlling 
man  in  the  survey.  He  had,  when  young,  assisted  in  the  survey  of  Washington 
city,  and  to  the  ideas  obtained  in  that  work  we  are  probably  indebted  for  the  plan  of 
the  city,  and  especially  its  wide  and  regular  streets.  He  was  a  Scotchman,  a  bachelor, 
and  had  been  concerned  in  Burr's  expedition,  the  failure  of  which  left  him  in  the 
West,  where  he  chose  to  remain.  He  died  in  1827,  and  was  buried  in  the  "old  grave 
yard,"  though  nobody  now  knows  where. 

The  "donation"  of  four  sections  WAS  surveyed,  a  fraction  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river  being  added  to  fiil  out  one  of  the  sections  from  which  a  corner  was  cut  off  by 


PLAN  OF  THE  TOWS. 


13 


the  eastward  bend  of  the  river.  In  the  centre  of  this  tract  a  plat  of  one  mile  square 
was  made  for  the  capital.  It  may  be  remarked  here,  however,  that  the  donation  is 
not  exactly  in  the  centre  of  the  State,  nor  is  the  old  plat  of  the  city  exactly  in  the 
centre  of  the  donation.  The  latter  is  a  mile  or  two  northwest  of  the  centre  of  the 
State.  The  location  of  the  city  in  the  donation  was  determined  mainly  by  the  posi- 
tion of  Pogue's  Creek.  To  have  put  the  city  in  the  centre  of  the  donation  would  have 
taken  the  creek  too  nearly  through  the  middle  of  it,  and  the  valley  of  that  stream  was 
a  very  uninviting  locality  in  those  days.  To  avoid  it  the  plat  was  located  further 
north  and  the  centre  placed  at  the  circle.  A  beautiful  little  knoll  further  recom- 
mended this  point. 

On  this  central  knoll  a  circle  of  about  four  acres  was  laid  off  as  the  starting 
point,  and  a  street  eighty  feet  wide  thrown  round  it.  From  the  extreme  corners  of 
the  four  adjacent  squares,  avenues  were  sent  out  to  the  northeast,  northwest,  southeast, 
and  southwest.  The  first  street  south  was  made  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet 
wide,  and  called  "Washington"  then,  and  is  so  called  now,  but  for  many  years  it  was 
called  "  Main  "  street.  The  remainder  of  the  square  mile  was  laid  off  in  regular 
squares  of  four  hundred  and  twenty  feet,  separated  by  ninety  feet  streets  following 
the  cardinal  points  of  the  compass,  and  divided  by  alleys  of  thirty  and  fifteen  feet, 
crossing  each  other  at  right  angles  in  the  centre.  The  boundary  streets,  East,  West, 
North  and  South,  were  not  included  in  the  original  survey.  The  Commissioner 
seems  to  have  thought  that  nobody  would  ever  live  on  the  outside  of  the  last  line  of 
squares  and  made  no  provision  to  reach  any  but  the  inside.  These  streets  owe  their 
existence  to  James  Blake,  who  represented  their  importance  to  Commissioner  Harrison, 
and  he  subsequently  added  them  to  the  plat.  The  "out-blocks,  "  or  divisions  of  the 
donation  outside  the  original  plat,  were  made  some  time  afterwards.  Nobody  dreamed 
that  the  young  town  could  grow  all  over  the  old  plat,  the  "  out-lots,  "  and  a  great  deal 
of  the  country  outside  of  both,  as  it  has. 

The  surveys  having  been  completed  and  mapped  as  required  by  law,  the  sale  of 
alternate  lots  was  advertised  to  be  held  on  the  tenth  of  October,  by  General  John 
Carr,  State  Agent.  At  the  appointed  time  it  was  held  in  a  cabin  occupied  as  a  tavern 
by  Matthias  Nowland,  a  little  west  of  the  present  line  of  the  canal,  on  Washington 
street.  Although  the  main  settlement  was  on  the  river,  as  new  settlements  always 
are,  the  sickness  that  had  hardly  yet  passed  away  convinced  the  people  that  they  must 
move  farther  off,  and  river  lots  did  not  sell  well.  The  sales  lasted  several  days  and 
three  hundred  and  fourteen  lots  were  sold  for  $35,596  25,  of  which  one-fifth,  $7,119  25 
was  paid  down,  the  remainder  to  be  paid  in  four  equal  annual  instalments.  The  lot 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  Delaware  and  Washington  streets  brought  the  highest 
price,  $560,  and  one  west  of  the  State  House  square  sold  for  the  next  highest  price, 
$500.  Prices  generally  ranged  between  $100  and  $300. 

The  progress  made  in  the  disposal  of  the  town  site  and  the  .adjacent  out-lota  of 
the  donation,  gave  but  a  feeble  promise  of  the  future  growth  of  the  town.  After  the 
first  sales,  lots,  as  the  market  phrase  has  it,  were  "dull  and  inactive."  Of  the  three 
hundred  and  fourteen  sold  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  were  forfeited  or  exchanged 
for  others.  The  reserved  lots — only  alternate  lots  were  first  sold — and  those  that  had 
been  forfeited,  were  offered  for  sale  repeatedly,  but  unavailingly.  Money  was  scarce,  of 
course,  as  it  always  is,  and  the  reputation  of  the  town  for  health  was  bad.  The 
capital,  though  assigned  to  the  town,  might  be  kept  away  for  years,  as  it  was.  The 
outlook  was  unpromising.  The  growth  was  slow,  so  slow  that  as  late  as  1831,  three- 
fourths  of  the  town  site  and  donation  remained  unsold.  In  that  year  the  Legislature, 
by  putting  a  minimum  price  of  $10  upon  the  lots,  managed  to  get  rid  of  most  of  them, 


14  HOLLOWATTS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

and  when  the  sales  were  closed  in  1842,  it  was  found  that  the  whole  of  Indianapolis 
had  brought  but  $125,000.  Out  of  this  fund,  the  State  House,  Court  House,  the 
Governor's  House,  in  the  circle,  the  Clerk's  office,  and  Treasurer's  house  and  office 
were  paid  for.  The  agency  for  the  sale  of  city  lots  was  held  successively  by  General 
Carr,  James  Milroy,  Bethuel  F.  Morris,  Benjamin  I.  Blythe,  Ebenezer  Sharpe,  John 
G.  Brown,  Thomas  H.  Sharpe  and  John  Cook.  It  was  then  transferred  to  the  State 
Auditor. 

The  city  &a  thus  sold  out  was  a  forest,  except  where  a  clearing  here  and  there 
had  opened  the  ground  to  the  light. 

To  get  the  streets  cleared  it  was  proposed  to  give  the  timber  to  anybody  who 
would  cut  it.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Lismund  Basye  took  the  contract  for  Washing- 
ton street,  expecting  to  make  a  "good  thing"  of  such  a  superb  lot  of  timber  trees,  and 
then  began  to  calculate.  There  were  no  mills  and  his  trees  were  of  no  use  without 
them,  so  he  rolled  his  splendid  logs  together  and  burned  them  as  well  as  his 
"fingers." 

The  year  was  closed  by  the  inauguration  of  a  county  organization.  The  sales 
made  by  Judge  Harrison  were  confirmed  by  the  Legislature,  and  on  the  last  day  of 
the  year  1821,  an  act  was  passed  organizing  Marion  county,  and  attaching  to  it  for 
judicial  purposes  the  territory  now  constituting  the  counties  of  Johnson,  Hamilton, 
Boone,  Madison  and  Hancock.  The  present  Court  House  Square  was  dedicated  to 
judicial  uses,  and  $8,000  appropriated  to  build  a  two  story  brick  Court  House,  fifty 
feet  square,  to  be  completed  in  three  years,  and  used  by  the  State,  Federal  and  County 
Courts,  and  by  the  Legislature  for  fifty  years,  or  until  a  State  House  should  be  built. 
Two  per  cent  of  the  lot  fund  was  set  apart  for  a  County  Library.  William  W.  Wick 
was  elected  the  first  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and  Hervey  Bates  appointed  the  first 
sheriff.  Both  came  out  early  in  the  following  year,  1822. 


h  ap  t  er   II* 


CONDITION    OF    THE    TOWN — THE    WANT    OF    ROADS — CHARACTER    OF    THE    POPULATION — THE 

PRIVATE    POSTOFFICE THE    FIRST    PAPER — THE    FIRST    ELECTIONS — THE    FIRST    COURT, 

COURT-HOUSE    AND    JAIL — PROGRESS   OF    THE   TOWN. 

''HE  beginning  of  the  year  1822,  is  a  convenient  point  from  which  to  glance  at 
the  situation  and  prospects  of  the  city.  The  capital  had  been  located,  the  town 
named,  its  plan  completed,  enough  of  its  lots  sold  and  population  collected  to 
warrant  it  against  dying  of  inanition,  and  the  political  'existence  of  the  county  had 
just  been  recognized  and  a  place  within  the  law  given  it.  It  was  ready  for  emigration 
and  emigrants  were  ready  for  elections,  though  no  representation  in  the  Legislature 
had  been  allowed.  The  town  was  a  fact,  but  an  almost  imperceptible  one  in  the  dense 
and  limitless  woods  into  which  it  had  crawled.  It  made  little  more  change  in  the 
face  of  the  region  than  the  boring  of  a  few  grubs  makes  in  a  white  oak  log.  Scattered 
cabins  seemed  to  have  dropped  down  with  no  order  or  purpose,  thickening  a  little 
near  the  river,  and  thickening  still  more  toward  the  East,  but  they  marked  no  street 
except  the  line  of  Washington,  which  still  bore  dismal  testimony  to  the  fate  of 
Basye's  speculation  in  timber.  It  was  crowded  with  stumps  and  heaps  of  logs  and 
limbs,  which,  in  places,  the  close  undergrowth  of  hazel,  spice  brush  and  pawpaw  made 
impervious  to  all  penetration.  To  travel  along  it  was  impossible  ;  to  cross  it,  except  by 
long  and  devious  ways,  very  difficult ;  to  see  across  it  a  feat  of  little  easier  performance 
than  looking  through  a  stone  wall.  Mr.  Brown  notices  that  a  spectator  standing  in 
the  door  of  Hawkins's  tavern  (old  Capital  House  site)  could  not  see  a  house  where 
Hubbard's  block  is  on  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Meridian  streets.  No  other 
street  was  visible  at  all,  or  only  by  patches  of  ineffectual  clearing.  Neighbors  went 
from  house  to  house  through  paths  as  hard  to  follow  as  a  cow  track  in  White  River 
bottom.  One  could  walk  right  over  the  places  where  are  now  depots,  churches  and  four 
story  houses,  but  he  had  to  bend  out  of  the  way  an  intrusive  root,  or  an  inconvenient 
log.  It  is  hardly  a  score  of  years  since  the  last  vestiges  of  this  troublesome  thicket 
disappeared,  and  on  Pogue's  Creek,  near  West  street,  there  are  ^still  some  honey 
locusts  surviving  the  destruction. 

The  means  of  communication  between  the  town  and  other  portions  of  the  State 
were  no  better  than  those  between  neighbors  in  the  town.  There  were  no  roads. 
The  river  was  useless  except  for  such  trading  as  necessity  might  create  with  the 
Indians ;  and  the  Cumberland,  or  National,  Road,  though  on  its  way  westward,  came 
slowly  and  was  by  no  means  certain  of  being  able  to  come  beyond  the  Ohio  State 
line  at  all.  For  the  government  was  building  it  by  contract  with  Ohio,  with  money 
reserved  from  the  proceeds  of  public  land  sales  in  that  State,  and  when  the  contract 
should  be  finished  at  the  western  boundary,  there  was  no  power  to  go  further,  except 
by  such  a  construction  of  the  Constitution  as  would,  and  did,  arouse  one  of  the 
warmest  and  most  protracted  political  controversies  in  our  national  history,  and  ended 
by  dropping  the  tail  of  the  road  in  the  mud  a  little  west  of  Big  Eagle  Creek.  The 


16 


UOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 


State  Legislature  petitioned  Congress  for  a  continuance  of  the  road  through  the  newly 
chosen  capital,  within  two  days  after  the  choice  had  been  confirmed,  but  no  attention 
was  given  the  request.  It  was  not  till  about  Christmas,  1828,  when  Hon.  Oliver 
H.  Smith,  then  a  representative  in  Congress  from  the  White  Water  district  of  this 
State,  by  a  resolution  directing  a  continuance  of  the  road  westward  beyond  the  limit 
of  the  contract  with  Ohio,  woke  up  the  sleeping  lion  of  party  conflict,  that  attention 
was  effectively  called  to  the  matter.  Even  then,  but  for  Hon.  William  McLean, 
of  Ohio,  the  road  would  have  left  Indianapolis  a  tier  of  counties  to  the  north,  for  Mr. 
Smith's  resolution  directed  the  "  existing  location  to  be  followed  "  and  that  was 
tending  southward.  Mr.  McLean  changed  the  direction  "from  Zanesville,  through 
Columbus,"  and  sent  it  to  this  place.  But  this  really  great  (for  that  day)  work  came 
too  late  to  relieve  the  necessities  of  the  mud  and  wood  bound  town.  We  got  but 
little  good  of  it  till  1838,  and  by  that  time,  though  it  was  the  only  good  road  we  had, 
railroads  were  acquiring  too  firm  a  grasp  of  public  feeling  and  hope  to  allow  its  indis- 
putable value  to  encourage  the  improvement  of  other  roads.  Its  direct  advantage 
beyond  macadamizing  Washington  street,  was  not  at  all  equal  to  the  anticipations  of 
the  citizens.  It  became  a  thoroughfare  for  emigration  to  the  Mississippi  and  beyond, 
but  it  left  here  little  of  the  deposit  that  was  borne  along  by  its  current.  It  did  a  vast 
deal  for  the  West  but  not  much  for  Indianapolis. 

There  were  other  roads,  or  rather  places  for  them,  laid  out  to  the  Ohio  and  White- 
water rivers  by  the  Legislature,  in  the  winter  of  1821-2,  and  one  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars appropriated  to  build  them,  and  still  others  were  asked  for  by  a  petition  of  the  citizens 
in  the  fall  of  1822,  but  all  were  little  better  than  none  till  long  after  the  town  had  ceased 
to  be  dependent  upon  them.  The  "  Michigan  State  Road"  from  the  Ohio  river  to  the 
new  capital  through  Greensburg,  was  one  of  these,  and  at  the  lower  end  it  was  made 
a  very  good  road,  but  the  upper  end  was  mud  or  "cross  way,"  impassable  in  winter 
and  intolerable  in  summer.  The  Madison  road  through  Franklin  and  Columbus  was 
even  worse.  So  were  all  the  Northern  lines  to  Pendleton.  Noblesville  and  Crawfords- 
ville.  And  so  they  remained  till  neighborhood  thrift  and  convenience  gravelled  or 
planked  them  into  passability.  It  needs  no  very  long  memory  to  recall  the  merchant's 
journey  to  Cincinnati,  consuming  double  the  time  and  ten  fold  the  comfort  of  a 
trip  now  to  New  York;  or  the  voyages  of  goods  wagons  quite  equal  to  an  Atlantic 
voyage  now;  in  the  days  when  the  Stucks,  Lemasters,  Perrys  and  their  associates 
ruled  transportation  with  the  wagon  whip  as  absolutely  as  Vanderbilt  or  Fisk  can  do  with 
their  tariffs;  and  those  who  can  recall  those  days  and  scenes  can  easily  understand  what 
the  isolation  of  Indianapolis  was  when  it  had  no  roads  at  all.  Attempts  to  improve 
the  river  were  made  at  intervals  for  years,  but  never  accomplished  anything  but  a 
demonstration  that  nothing  could  be  done  at  all  except  upon  a  scale  unlikely  to  be 

attempted. 

» 
The  town  was  hidden  and  out  of  reach.     We  who  see  it  the  greatest  railroad 

centre  on  the  earth,  accessible  from  more  directions  and  to  greater  numbers  than  any 
other  city  that  ever  existed,  find  it  hard  to  understand  the  motives  that  could  have 
impelled  the  settlers  of  this  period  to  try  to  get  to  it.  Immediate  profit  they  could 
not  count  upon,  for  there  were  no  mines  or  promises  of  unusual  development.  What- 
evey  they  got  they  knew  they  would  have  to  get  by  hard  work  or  shrewd  manage- 
ment, as  they  could  anywhere  else.  Real  estate  promised  a  poor  speculation,  even  in 
an  embryo  capital  to  which  access  was  difficult  always  and  almost  impossible  for  half 
the  year,  and  where  sickness  and  starvation  were  visitors  of  most  unpleasant  fre- 
quency. There  was  not  much  to  look  to  as  remuneration  for  a  great  deal  that  must 


POPULATION,  AND  FIRST  POST  OFFICE.  17 

be  endured.  Whether  it  was  a  higher  motive  than  personal  advantage,  or  merely  an 
irrepressible  feeling  of  unrest,  that  sent  our  first  settlers  here,  it  is  certain  that  if  the 
upbuilding  of  the  town  had  depended  upon  similar  efforts  of  their  descendants  and 
successors  it  would  have  remained  unbuilt.  It  is  not  necessary  to  look  for  greater 
virtues  among  pioneers  than  among  their  children  to  account  for  their  contented 
endurance  of  privations,  or  ready  daring  of  danger;  but  more  striking  virtues  we  certainly 
shall  find.  Doubtless  we  of  this  day  have  qualities  better  suited  to  our  times,  and  an 
average  of  endowments  and  deficiencies  of  one  generation  would  probably  differ  but 
little  from  that  of  the  other,  but  those  of  the  pioneers,  whatever  they  were,  were 
not  ours.  That  is  certain.  No  other  town  in  the  State  has  had  to  encounter  so  many 
and  so  serious  obstacles  to  improvement.  Those  which  once  rivalled  it  had  infinite 
advantages,  either  in  navigable  streams  or  easy  access  to  other  settlements.  Indian- 
apolis had  nothing,  and  lay  among  hostile  Indians  where  scalps  were  little  safer  than 
they  are  now"  on  the  slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Isolation,  sickness  and  endless 
forests  were  serious  drawbacks  to  a  town  that  offered  no  better  inducements  than, 
could  be  found  in  every  township  of  the  State.  There  is  no  just  parallel  between  it 
and  the  cities  of  the  far  West  that  have  sprouted  out  of  the  gold  traffic.  Great  risks 
for  great  gains  are  frequent  enough  anywhere,  and  nowhere  more  frequent  than  at  the 
faro  table.  There  were  no  such  chances  and  no  such  efforts  here,  yet  no  gold  town 
can  show  a  history  of  greater  difficulties  surmounted  by  more  indomitable  resolution; 

The  population  at  the  beginning  of  1822,  numbering  not  far  from  five  hundred,; 
was  quite  as  well  provided  with  mechanical  and  professional  skill  as  any  young  town, 
could  be,  and  there  was  very  little,  if  any,  admixture  of  the  fierce  ruffianism  too  often, 
nourished  by  remote  settlements  and  unforgotten  Indian  cruelties.  All  were  workersr. 
and  if  there  were  any  drones  they  were  not  troublesome  as  well  as  useless;  The  con- 
dition of  the  town  is  exhibited  accurately  enough  in  a  paragraph  of  one  of  the  earliest 
copies  of  the  first  newspaper  published  here.  Forty  dwellings  had  been  built  during 
the  past  year;  several  workshops  had  been  erected,  and  two  saw  mills  and  a  grist 
mill  were  in  operation  in  the  vicinity,  while  others  were  in  course  of  construction. 
There  were  thirteen  carpenters,  four  cabinet  makers,  eight  blacksmiths,  four  shoe- 
makers, two  tailors,  pne  hatter,  two  tanners,  one  saddler,  one  cooper,  four  bricklayers, . 
two  merchants,  three  grocers,  four  doctors,  three  lawyers,  one  preacher,  one  teacher, 
and  seven  tavern  keepers.  The  nttmberof  the  last  class  seems  to  indicate  a  tendency 
towards  speculating  on  the  possession  of  the  Legislature  for  three  months  in  the  year. 
There  could  have  been  but  very  few  of  the  adult  male  population  outside  of  this  list 
of  sixty-one  working  men. 

In  the  remote  and  almost  inaccessible  situation  of  the  little  community,  the  wajit 
of  postal  facilities  was,  next  to  the  supply  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  most  keenly  felt; 
and  one  of  its  first  efforts,  after  settling  into  the  form  and  substance  of  a  village,  was 
to  open  communication  with  the  world!  they  had. left.  A  meeting  ci  the  citizens  was 
held  at  Hawkins's  tavern,  on  the  thirtieth  of  January,  to  establish,  a  private  mail, 
which,  ineficient  as  it  must  be,  was  better  than  the  chance  of  trusting  to  new  emi- 
grants or  occasional  visitors  to  carry  letters.  A.  postmaster,  whose  chief  duty  was  mail 
carrying,  was  chosen,  in  Mr.  Aaron  Drake,  and  he  notified  postmasters  to  forward' 
Indianapolis  matter  to  Connersville,  where  he  would  receive  it  and  take  it  to  its 
destination.  He  heralded  his  first  arrival  by  an. uproarious  blowing  of  his  horn,  and" 
though  it  was  after  nightfall  the  people  turned,  out  in  mass  to  welcome  him  and  his 
budget  of  news.  The  government,  in  a  few  weeks,  completed  the  work  thus  irre- 
sponsibly begun,  and  in  February  sent  Samuel  Henderson  as  a  regularly  commissioned! 

(2) 


1Q  HOLLOWAY'S  ISD1ANAPOLK. 

postmaster,  to  displace  Mr.  Drake's  enterprise.  He  opened  his  office  on  the  seventh  of 
March,  and  a  month  after  published  the  first  list  of  five  uncalled  for  letters,  a  number  indi- 
cating, with  about  equal  clearness,  a  meagre  correspondence  and  an  eager  inquiry  for  what 
there  was.  Henderson  held  the  place  till  1831.  The  office  was  moved  about  with 
the  changes  made  by  the  growth  of  the  town,  but  was,  on  the  whole,  much  less 
vagrant  than  might  have  been  anticipated  even  by  those  who  could  have  forseen  the 
stages  in  its  course  to  its  present  magnitude.  It  was  first  kept  near  where  the  canal 
now  runs,  that  then  being  a  half-way  point  between  the  earlier  settlement  on  the 
river  and  the  later  and  larger  to  the  eastward.  It  was  next  kept  in  Henderson's 
tavern,  on  the  site  of  Glenn's  block;  then  in  what  used  to  be  called  "Union  Row," 
a  line  of  two  story  brick  buildings  of  surpassing  splendor  for  that  day,  of  which  John 
Cain,  the  postmaster,  owned  one  and  put  his  office  in  it ;  later  in  the  building  on  the 
west  side  of  Meridian  street,  near  Washington,  now  incorporated  in  "  Hubbard's 
$lock;"  at  one  time  it  was  kept  on  the  west  side  of  Pennsylvania  street,  in  the  same 
•building  with  the  JOURNAL  office,  and  a  fire  which  broke  out  in  the  Washington  street 
.front  of  the  block  endangered  it  greatly ;  subsequently  it  was  removed  to  Blackford's 
building  on  the  east  side  of  Meridian  street,  opposite  to  a  former  location,  and  there 
it  remained  till  its  removal  to  the  building  which  the  government  erected  expressly 
.for  it.  Of  the  history  of  its  business  more  will  be  said  in  another  place. 

Almost  simultaneously  with  the  establishment  of  the  first  mail  came  the  first 
newspaper  of  the  town.  It  was  issued  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  January,  and  an- 
nounced that  its  owners  and  editors  were  George  Smith  and  Nathaniel  Bolton.  The 
former  was  rather  a  conspicuous  character  aside  from  the  notoriety  attaching  to  a 
magnate  of  the  press.  He  wore  a  queue  carefully  tied  with  an  eel  skin  string.  The  "  old 
settlers"  believed  fully  that  some  sort  of  virtue  lay  in  such  a  string  that  no  twine  or 
strip  of  buckskin  could  boast.  Old  women  always  tied  their  "  back  hair"  with  eel 
skin,  and  many  an  eel  has  died  a  victim  to  this  fancy  that  might  have  lived  till  now 
if  only  sought  for  his  meat.  Mr.  Smith,  moreover,  had  a  most  sonorous  sneeze,  which, 
to  all  the  inhabitants  in  the  vicinity  of  his  residence  on  the  corner  of  Georgia 
and  Tennessee  streets,  where  the  Catholic  institutions  now  stand,  proclaimed  the  early 
dawn  as  regularly  as  cock-crow,  and  could  be  heard  nearly  as  far  as  the  arsenal  gun. 
He  was  a  man  of  some  eccentricity  of  character,  and  esteemed  of  a  rather  intellectual 
cast  in  that  day  of  material  interests  and  influences.  Mr.  Bolton  is  better  known  as 
the  first  husband  of  Mrs.  Sarah  T.  Bolton,  not  unfrequently  called  the  "  poetess  of 
Indiana,"  and,  unquestionably,  for  many  years  more  widely  known  than  any  other 
literary  personage  in  the  State.  He  was  State  Librarian  at  one  time,  and  subsequently 
Consul  at  the  city  of  Geneva,  Switzerland.  He  was  more  or  less  connected  with  the 
press  for  many  years,  but  though  a  man  of  sound  sense  and  fair  attainments,  he  never 
made  a  very  broad  mark  either  on  the  press,  or,  through  it,  on  the  public.  The  first 
office  of  the  Gazette,  was  a  cabin  near  where  the  present  Fifth  Ward  school  stands  on 
Maryland  street.  It  was  soon  changed  to  the  site  of  the  Metropolitan  Theatre ;  and 
thence  to  a  building  near  Pennsylvania  street  on  Washington;  and  later  to  a  one- 
story  brick  on  the  site  of  Temperance  Hall,  which  became  afterwards  a  theatre,  and 
the  headquarters  of  recruiting  for  the  Mexican  war. 

Very  few  papers  have  encountered  or  withstood  greater  difficulties  so  early  in  life. 
Its  ink  was  compound  of  tar,  and  realized  the  printer's  description  of  a  paper  "  worked 
with  swamp  mud  on  a  cider  press."  It  appeared  as  it  had  a  chance,  for  the  lack  of 
mails  made  it  difficult  to  gather  matter,  and  as  for  local  news  every  tongue  told  that 
to  every  ear,  and  the  accidental  paper  must  have  been  as  empty  as  a  last  year's  bird's 
nest.  Seven  numbers  were  published  between  the  twenty-eighth  of  January  and  the 


FIRST  NEWSPAPER— F1KST  ELECTION.  JQ 

fourth  of  May,  an  average  of  one  every  two  weeks.  After  that  the  roads  and  mails 
enabled  it  to  appear  regularly.  A  notice  of  the  press  of  the  city  will  give  further 
information  in  regard  to  it,  its  rivals  and  the  successors  of  both. 

Following  closely  after  the  first  mail  and  the  first  paper,  came  the  first  election. 
The  county  had  been  organized,  but  it  had  no  officers,  except  the  Judge  and  Sheriff, 
who  served  by  appointment  of  the  Governor.  On  the  22d  of  February  Hervey  Bates, 
the  Sheriff,  issued  a  proclamation  ordering  the  election  on  the  first  of  April  following, 
of  two  Associate  Judges,  a  Clerk,  Recorder,  and  three  Commissioners,  and  designating 
polling  places,  which  show  what  a  very  extensive  county  we  had  then.  One  was  in 
the  town  at  the  house  of  General  Carr,  the  State  Agent  for  the  sale  of  town  lots,  on 
Delaware  street,  opposite  the  present  county  offices;  one  at  John  Finch's,  near  Con- 
ner's settlement,  four  rn'iles  south  of  Noblesville;  one  at  John  Page's,  Strawtown,  in 
the  northern  part  of  what  is  now  Hamilton  county;  one  at  John  Berry's,  Anderson, 
now  Madison  county;  and  one  at  William  McCartney's,  on  Fall  Creek,  near  Pendle- 
ton.  The  list  of  candidates  would  have  shamed  even  the  formidable  array  of  names 
that  "Many  Friends"  announce  every  two  years  at  this  day.  'For  Judges,  James 
Page,  Robert  Patterson,  James  Mcllvain,  Eliakim  Harding,  John  Smock,  and  Rev. 
Jolin  McClung  announced  themselves.  For  Clerk,  James  M.  Ray,  Milo  R.  Davis, 
Morris  Morris,  Thomas  Anderson,  and  John  W.  Redding.  For  Recorder,  Alexander 
Ralston,  Joseph  C.  Reed,  Aaron  Drake,  John  Givan  (still  living),  John  Hawkins, 
William  Vandegrift,  and  William  Townsend.  For  County  Board  there  were  about 
five  candidates  for  each  of  the  three  memberships.  In  a  voting  population  of  three 
hundred  and  thirty,  a  list  of  thirty-three  candidates  indicates  that  if  there  is  any  dif- 
ference, we  "have  degenerated  a  little  from  the  ambition  of  our  predecessors.  Partisan 
differences,  though  resting  on  no  questions  of  policy,  were  pretty  well  marked,  and 
followed  the  line  of  nativity  closely.  Kentucky  and  Whitewater,  represented  by 
Morris  Morris  and  James  M.  Ray,  were  the  contestants,  and  they  fought  as  eagerly, 
though  hardly  so  unscrupulously,  as  later  rivals  for  the  same  offices.  Every  voter  was 
brought  out,  and  pretty  nearly  every  one  was  taken  back  drunk.  In  respect  of 
temperance,  later  elections  are  a  decided  improvement  on  those  of  the  first  twenty 
years  of  our  history.  The  Kentuckians  were  mainly  the  sufferers,  from  too  recent 
residence  to  be  entitled  to  a  vote,  and  Whitewater  was  victorious.  James  M.  Ray 
became  the  first  County  Clerk ;  Joseph  C.  Reed,  the  first  schoolmaster,  became  first 
County  Recorder;  John  T.  Osborn,  John  McCormack  and  William  McCartney  first 
Commissioners;  and  Eliakim  Harding  and  James  Mcllvain,  first  Associate  Judges. 
James  M.  Ray  got  21  7  votes,  out  of  an  entire  poll  of  336  in  the  county.  At  the  Indi- 
anapolis precinct,  224  votes  were  cast,  of  which  something  over  100  belonged  to  the 
"donation."  The  vote  shows  that  some  addition  had  been  made  to  the  adult  popu- 
lation of  the  town  since  the  Gazette's  list  appeared.  In  August,  the  election  for  Gov- 
ernor was  held,  and  William  Hendricks  received  315  votes,  out  of  317.  Harvey  Bates 
was  then  elected  Sheriff,  and  George  Smith,  Coroner. 

The  County  Board  organised  on  the  15th  of  April,  and  formed  thirteen  town- 
ships— Pike,  Washington,  Lawrence,  Wayne,  Center,  Warren,  Decatur,  Perry  and 
Franklin,  as  at  present,  with  four  others  in  the  outlying  portions  of  the  county — Fall 
Creek,  Anderson,  White  River  and  'Delaware.  Some  of  these  were  attacited  to  the 
administration  of  larger  townships  for  a  time.  In  Center,  Wilkes  Reagan,  Obed 
Foote  and  Lismund  Basye  were  elected  Justices  on  the  23d  of  May. 

The  first  term  of  Court  commenced  on  the  26th  of  September,  and  the  session  was 
first  held  in  Carr's  Cabin,  already  alluded  to.  Judge  W.  W.  Wick  presided,  assisted 
by  his  new  associates  Harding  and  Mcllvain;  Clerk  Ray  produced  his  first  docket  as 


20  HOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

Clerk;  Hervey  Bates  introduced  business  with  the  first  official  "Oyez,"  as  sheriff; 
and  Calvin  Fletcher  acted,  by  appointment,  as  the  first  Prosecutor.  The  Court,  after 
organizing,  adjourned  to  Crambaugh's  house,  west  of  the  Canal,  and  there  tried  the 
first  case.  Daniel  Bowman  vs.  Meridy  Edwards.  Richard  Good,  late  of  Ireland, 
was  naturalized.  The  Grand  Jury  returned  twenty-two  indictments,  six  of  them  for 
unlicensed  liquor-selling;  and  John  Hawkins  was  granted  a  license  to  keep  a  tavern 
and  sell  liquor.  As  debtors  were  then  liable  to  imprisonment,  "bounds"  were  fixed; 
which  allowed  unfortunate  poverty  a  chance  to  move  about,  but  confined  it  to  der- 
tain  streets. 

The  appropriation  of  $8,000  and  a  square  of  ground,  made  by  the  Legislature,  for 
a  Court  House,  was  first  applied  .by  the  County  Commissioners  on  the  22d  of  May, 
when  a  call  was  made  for  a  plan  of  the  proposed  building.  That  of  John  E.  Baker 
and  James  Paxton  was  selected,  and  the  contract  for  erection  awarded  them  in 
September.  What  the  plan  was  could  be  seen  a  few  weeks  ago.  The  work  was 
begun  the  following  summer,  and  completed  in  the  fall  of  1824,  at  a  cost  of  $14,000. 
At  the  same  session  of  the  County  Board,  Mr.  Sheriff  Bates  was  directed  to  procure 
proposals  for  a  jail,  and  for  clearing  the  Court  House  square.  The  latter  was  done 
partly  by  the  axe  and  partly  by  the  wind.  A  fine  selection  of  large  trees  was  left 
standing  when  the  forest  was  cut  away,  but  they  were  blown  and  broken  oif  so  badly 
that  it  was  thought  best  to  clean  them  out  entirely.  The  jail,  of  hewed  logs,  two 
stories  high,  was  finished  early  in  the  fall.  It  stood  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
square,  a  little  north  of  the  present  temporary  Court  House.  It  was  burned  in  1833, 
by  a  negro,  who  a  short  time  before  had  paraded  the  streets  riding  on  the  back  of  a 
buffalo,  to  the  amazement  of  all  the  school  children,  and  distinguished  by  a  red  mo- 
rocco band  on  his  cap,  and  the  name  of  "  Buffalo  Bill."  He  was  not  burned  iu  the 
jail,  but  it  would  have  been  little  matter  if  he  had  been.  A  new  brick  jail,  so  long, 
identified  with  Andrew  Smith,  Deputy  Sheriff  and  Jailfer,  and  with  Mr.  Mattingly, 
was  then  built  east  of  the  old  Court  House,  on  Alabama  street,  and  enlarged  in  1845 
by  an  addition  made  of  three  concentric  courses  of  hewed  logs,  each  a  foot  "thick,  the 
fiiiddle  one  crossing  the  others  transversely,  and  making  quite  as  safe  a  prison,  except 
against  fire,  as  any  stone  or  brick  contrivance  yet  attempted.  Both  gave  place,  in 
1852,  to  the  present  costly  and  inadequate  structure.  The  Court  House  will  soon  be 
replaced  by  the  building,  a  cut  of  which  forms  the  frontispiece  to  this  volume. 

Along  with  other  interesting  first  observances  or  inaugurations,  that  of  the  first 
Fourth  of  July  celebration  deserves  notice.  It  had  been  arranged  at  a  meeting  at 
Hawkins'  tavern  two  weeks  before,  and  was  held  on  the  old  "Military  Ground,'' 
where  subsequently  the  "Bloody  Three  Hundred"  rendezvoused  for  the  Black  Hawk 
expedition.  Rev.  John  McClung  preached  a  sermon  from  Proverbs  xiv.  and  34,  Judge 
Wick  read  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  prefaced  with  some  appropriate  remarks, 
and  'Squire  Obed  Foote  read  Washington's  In'augural  Address,  John  Hawkins  read 
the  Farewell  Address,  and  Rev.  Robert  Brenton,  with  a  benediction,  dismissed  the 
meeting  to  a  barbecue  of  a  buck,  which  Robert  Harding  had  killed  the  day  before  in 
the  north  part  of  the  donation.  The  banquet  was  enlivened  with  whisky,  and  toasts 
and  speeches  by  Dr.  Mitchell  and  Major  Redding,  and  the  whole  affair  concluded  with 
a  ball  at  Crumbaugh's. 

Militia  musters  were  deemed  important  in  those  days,  and  Hot  a  few  of  our 
statesmen  have  won  their  way  to  national  prominence  through  the  popularity  first 
gained  with  a  militia  plume  or  epaulet.  James  Paxton  was  the  first  Colonel  of  the 
regiment  assigned  to  this  section  of  the  State — the  Fortieth ;  Samuel  Jtforrow  Lieu- 
enant  Colonel,  and  Alexander  TV.  Russell.  Major.  These  titles  clung  to  their 


IHPROVElfEXTS—  FIRST  BBICK  BUILDJNG. 


21 


victims  t<Kthe  last  day  of  their  lives,  except  where  they  wtre  changed,  as  in  Russell's 
case,  for  a  higher  one. 

The  first  camp  meeting  was  held  for  three  days,  beginning  on  the  12th  of  Sep- 
tember, by  Rev.  James  Scott,  the  first  Methodist  pieacher  of  the  town,  who  was 
sent  here  by  the  St.  Louis  conference.  During  the  fall  one  of  those  singular  phe- 
nomena of  animal  instinct,  a  migration  of  squirrels,  took  place.  The  town  was 
filled  with  them,  and  myriads  crossed  the  river,  a  feat  which,  except-  in  these 
monstrous  processions,  squirrels  rarely  attempt.  Another  occurred  in  1848,  within 
the  memory  of  many  now  living,  when  the  animals  were  seen  frequently  in  the 
remoter  streets  and  ehot  out  of  shade  trees. 

Though  the  health  of  the  town  had  been  better  than  during  the  preceding  year, 
and  not  worse  than  that  of  western  villages  usually  was  in  those  days,  the  ill  repute 
of  the  universal  prostration  of  1821  clogg.  d  its  progress.  The  unsold  lots  remained 
unsold,  and  many  that  had  been  sold  showed  signs  of  a  coming  forfeiture.  Times 
were  hard,  as  they  always  are  in  a  new  country,  and  the  list  of  tax  delinquencies 
much  longer  in  proportion  than  it  is  now,  for  sums  ranging  from  a  quarter  of  a 
dollar  to  three  dollars,  showed  it  unmistakably.  Men  who  hold  lots  for  a  specula- 
tion, as  well  as  those  who  hold  for  homes,  do  not  willingly  incur  the  liabilities  of  a 
tax  sale.  To  encourage  settlement,  even  on  probation,  the  Legislature,  early  in 
January,  authorized  the  unsold  lots  to  be  sold  upon  condition  that  they  were  cleared 
within  four  months.  The  tract  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  (thrown  in  to  make 
up  the  complete  four  square  miles  of  the  Government  donation),  though  it  prom- 
ised rather  better  than  it  does  now,  was  thought  so  unlikely  of  settlement  as  a  town, 
that  it  was  leased  in  lots  big  enough  for  moderate  farms,  ranging  from  five  to  twenty 
acres.  A  lease  was  also  made  for  three  years  of  the  ferry  across  White  River.  It 
ran  very  nearly  across  from  the  foot  of  Washington  street  to  the  opposite  bank, 
some  hundred  yards  below  the  National  Road  bridge.  Two  acres  were  also  autho  r, 
ized  to  be  sold  for  a  brick  yard.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  effect  of  these 
encouragements,  there  is  but  one  of  them  that  has  left  a  trace  to  our  day,  and  that 
is  the  last.  The  brick  yard  furnished  the  material  for  the  first  brick  building 
erected  in  the  city,  and  it  is  standing  yet,  opposite  the  no;th  end  of  the  Post  Office, 
on  the  north  side  of  Market  street.  It  was  erected  by  John  Johnson,  begun  in  1822, 
and  completed  in  about  a  year.  The  first  two-story  frame  was  erected  in  the  spring 
of  this  year,  by  James  Linton,  on  Washington  street,  near  the  alley  east  of  the 
Metropolitan  Theatre.  For  a  number  of  years  it  was  stored  full  of  old  documents, 
and  was  occupied  sometimes  for  public  offic  s,  but  a  portion  of  the  time  as  a  book- 
bindery.  The  cellar  under  it  eaved  in,  on  the  street  side  as  well  as  on  the  other, 
and  the  hogs  used  to  wallow  there.  Then  it  was  abandoned,  or  used  for  any  chance 
purpose  that  it  suited,  till  about  1840,  when  it  was  repaired  and  additions  made  to 
it,  and  a  tavern  for  a  long  time  known  as  the  "  Buck  Tavern,"  from  its  sign,  was 
kept  tliere  by  Mr.  Armstrong.  It  was  burned  down  in  1847.  A  market  house  was 
placed  in  the  circle  grove  in  the  spring  of  1822,  but  was  soon  transferred  to  the  pres- 
ent East  Market  place. 

Though  the  town  was  the  chosen  capital  cf  the  State,  the  county  had  no  repre- 
sentation in  the  Legislature.  A  petition  to  obtain  it  was  adopted  by  a  meeting  in 
the  fall,  and  an  effort  made  to  obtain  a  weekly  mail  from  the  actual  capital,  Cory- 
cen,  by  way  of  Vernon.  Neither  met  with  success,  nor  did  a  later  effort  to  have 
the  town  incorporated.  The  citizens  were  not  agreed  about  it,  and  no  further  steps 
were  taken  in  that  direction  for  ten  years. 


SECOND  PAPER — LEGISLATIVE  ELECTION — IMPROVEMENTS — FIRST  DRAMA — FIRST 
CHURCH  AND  SUNDAY  SCHOOL —  ORDER  TO  REMOVE  THE  CAPITAL  —  THE 
INDIAN  MURDER — GREAT  FRESHET. 

beginning  of  the  year  1823  was  signalized  by  the  admission  of  the  county 
to  the  Legislature,  and  the  preparations  for  the  election  in  the  following 
August.  Two  newspapers  are,  of  course,  essential  to  any  well  regulated  polit- 
ical contest,  and  as  tbere  was  but  one  (the  Gazette),  when  the  contest  opened, 
another  became  inevitable  and  appeared  on  the  7th  of  March.  It  was  called  "  The 
Western  Censor  and  Emigrants  Guide,"  with  that  peculiar  inverse  proportion  of 
length  of  name  to  intrinsic  value  that  distinguishes  young  country  newspapers 
everywhere.  Harvey  Gregg  and  Douglass  Maguire  were  the  proprietors  and  edit- 
ors. Mr.  Gregg  has  passed  from  the  memory  of  all  but  a  very  few  of  the  present 
generation,  but  he  was  known  as  a  lawyer  of  decided  ability,  and  like  his  rival, 
Mr.  Smith,  of  some  personal  eccentricity.  Mr.  Maguire  is  still  well  remembered 
by  many  as  one  of  our  prominent  citizens,  a  capable  and  faithful  State  officer 
(Auditor,)  a  true  friend,  and  a  most  kindly  and  genial  gentleman,  though  irritable 
withal,  easily  vexed  and  as  easily  placated.  His  connection  with  the  paper,  in  one 
capacity  or  another,  continued  till  1835,  but  that  of  Mr.  Gregg  terminated  in  1824. 
Mr.  G.  was  succeeded  by  John  Douglass,  then  recenily  from  Corydan,  the  capital, 
where  he  had  been  printer  to  the  State,  Mr.  Maguire  acting  as  editor.  Early  in  1825 
the  name  was  changed  to  the  "  Indiana  Journal,"  which  it  still  retains,  and  seems 
likely  to  retain  as  long  as  a  newspaper  shall  be  published  in  Indianapolis.  Samuel 
Merrill  subsequently  became  editor.  His  successors  and  the  changes  in  proprietor- 
ship will  be  noticed  under  their  proper  head. 

The  Censor  and  Guide  took  tbe  political  path  that  finally  led  to  whigism,  as  the 
Gazette's  did  to  Democracy;  but  this  was  the  "era  of  good  feeling,"  as  it  has  been 
called,  when  parties  were  in  a  transition  state,  solidifying  from  the  break  up  of  the 
old  Federal  and  Democratic  parties  into  the  future  Whig  and  Democratic  parties, 
and  differences  were  less  defined  and  less  bitter  then  than  they  have  become  since. 
Parties  had  not  been  disciplined  to  the  accuracy  and  unanimity  of  movement  of 
armies,  even  where  parties  were  distinctly  formed,  and  elections  were  in  a  good 
degree  contests  of  personal  popularity.  No  man  knew  exactly  what  anybody  else 
believed  about  politics,  and  was  not  always  clear  as  to  what  he  believed  himself,  or 
whom  he  agreed  with,  and  his  choice  was  naturally  enough  decided  by  personal 
inclination.  Electioneering,  though  a  less  expensive,  was  a  more  delicate,  operation 
than  now,  when  a  nomination  gives  a  candidate  about  all  the  strength  that  any 
quantity  of  ability  and  personal  popularity  can  gain.  The  solidity  of  parties  is  too 
great  to  be  easily  affected  by  any  individual  quality.  But  in  that  day  a  man  carried 
himself,  consequently  the  "ingratiating"  element  came  powerfully  into  play,  and 
•was  aided  by  the  paucity  of  voters  which  made  a  personal  acquaintance  with  every 


HOTELS— THEATRICAL  PERFORMANCE.  23 

one  not  only  possible  but  easy.  The  day  of  child-kissing;,  dinner-eating,  wife-flat- 
tering electioneering  is  pretty  well  over  now;  but  in  1823  and  for  many  a  year 
afterwards,  it  was  a  candidate's  "  best  hold,"  and  a  good  fiddler  or  ''  go'  d  fellow" — 
pretty  much  the  same  thing — has  beaten  a  good  orator  and  a  sound  legislator  more 
than  once.  But  these  were  the  exceptions  then,  as  the  choice  of  really  inconppe'- 
tenfc  over  competent  men  is  the  exception  and  not  the  rule,  whatever  their  personal 
acceptability  may  be,  in  all  intelligent  communities.  The  election  made  our  fir»t 
legislators  of  two  men  who  would  have  done  credit  to  any  State.  James  Gregory 
of  Shelby,  was  our  Senator,  and  Col  Paxton  our  Representative. 

The  vote  showed  that  the  town  was  gaining  but  little.  At  the  preceding 
August  election,  when  Hendricks  was  chosen  Governor,  317  votes  were  cast  in  this 
county.  The  total  vote  was  now  but  270.  The  Censor  estimated  the  population  of 
the  town  at  600,  probably  quite  as  much  as  a  census  would  have  made  good.  A 
year  had  done  nothing  but  settle  and  fix  the  elements  already  collected.  But 
improvements  were  made,  and  a  look  of  age  and  steadiness  was  gradually  coming 
upon  the  callow  capital.  A  woolen  mill  was  set  in  operation  in  Wilson's  mill,  by 
Townsend  &  Pierce,  in  June.  Woolen  manufactures  in  the  form  of  a  supply  of 
yarn  for  socks  and  thread  foi  linsey  and  jeans,  are  among  the  first  efforts  of  young 
communities,  and  apt  to  appear  beside  or  close  after  the  saw  and  grist  mill.  In 
this  unpretending  form  they  are  as  significant  of  a  pioneer,  as  their  larger  succes- 
sors are  of  the  wealthy  and  well-grown,  community.  A  new  "tavern" — for  the 
dignity  of  "hotel "  was  not  claimed  by  the  primitive  establishments  of  those  days — 
was  built  \)y  Thomas  Carter,  on  Washington  street,  opposite  the  Court  house.  It 
was  burned  in  1825,  during  the  first  session  of  the  Legisf&ture  held  in  the  capita]. 
A  still  larger  and  more  famous  tavern  was  erected  about  the  same  time  by  James 
Blake  and  Samuel  Henderson,  the  Post  master,  on  the  site  of  "Glenn's  Block."  It 
was  called  "Washington  Hall,"  a  name  which  was  perpetuated  by  its  brick  suc- 
cessor, till  the  demands  of  business  and  the  rise  of  more  pretentious  hotels  sup- 
planted it.  Henderson's  old  frame  was  moved  eastward  in  1836,  to  make  way  for 
the  brick  building,  and  was  long  occupied  as  a  shoe  and  tailor  shop,  and  by  Gov. 
Wallace  as  a  law  office.  Gramling's  block  stands  in  its  place  now.  In  another 
place  will  be  found  a  fuller  notice  of  our  early  hotels.  These  preparations  for  the 
Legislature  were  not  indications  of  equal  activity  in  improvements  in  all  directions- 
Washington  street  was  still  encumbered  with  trees,  and  the  others  were  only  chopped 
out  in  places.  The  town  was  mainly  a  collection  of  illy  cleared  farms,  reached  by 
cow  paths;  still,  it  seems,  by  the  complaints  of  the  Censor,  to  have  provoked  the 
envy  or  rivalry  of  other  towns,  though  for  what,  it  is  not  easy  to  see. 

But  the  prospect  of  the  acquisition  of  the  capital  exerted  a  sort  of  metropolitan 
influence,  and  the  close  of  the  year  brought  the  first  Theatrical  entertainment  ever 
witnessed  in  Indianapolis.  It  was  given  in  Carter's  tavern,  on  the  night  of 
Wednesday,  the  31st  of  December,  and  consisted  of  the  "Doctor's  Courtship  or  the 
Indulgent  Father,"  and  the  farce  of  the  "Jealous  Lovers."  Price  of  admission, 
thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents.  In  deference  to  the  religious  notions  of  the  people 
Mr.  Carter  insisted  on  the  performance  only  of  serious  music,  "hymn  tunes"  and 
the  like,  by  the  single  fiddle  that  constituted  the  orchestra.  Several  performances 
were  given  with,  we  are  left  to  infer,  moderate  success,  as  the  "enterprising  mana- 
ger," Mr.  Smith— unhappily  his  first  name  is  not  known,  or  it  was  "John"  and 
might  as  well  have  not  been  any  name  at  all — came  back  next  year,  and  repeated 
the  experiment  with  less  success,  as  he  ran  off  without  paying  the  printer.  The 
Censor  intimated  on  the  return  of  Mr.  Smith  in  1824,  that  popular  feeling  was  not 


24  HOLLOWAY'B  INDIANAPOLIS. 

prepared  for  the  levity  of  theatrical  exhibitions,  though  its  own  opinion  was  not 
adverse  to  them.  This  hint  explains  Mr.  Carter's  incongruous  selection  of  '•  serious 
music."  It  was  a  compromise  between  scruple  and  curiosity. 

The  religious  sentiment  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  West,  even  when  no 
profession  of  religion  was  made,  was  always  strong,  and  never  yielded  to  fashiona- 
ble solicitations  or  the  hints  of  '•  Mrs.  Grundy."  As  already  noticed,  the  circle 
grove  was  used  as  a  meeting  house  for  the  first  attendants  on  public  worship,  and  a 
camp  meeting  , was  held  in  18-22,  by  the  Methodists,  east  of  town;  but  though  s.ev- 
-eral  denominations  were  fairly  represented,  no  church  edifice  was  erected  till  this 
year  of  1823.  The  Presbyterians,  early  in  the  spring,  held  a  meeting,  and  took 
steps  both  for  a  church  organization  and  building.  The  former  was  completed  in 
July,  and  the  latter,  at  a  cost  of  $1200  for  building  and  lot,  in  the  year  following, 
though  the  frame  was  raised  pretty  nearly  simultaneously  with  the  congregation. 
It  stood,  till  some  ten  or  twelve  years  ago,  where  it  was  first  placed,  on  Pennsylva- 
nia street,  about  midway  of  the  square  north  of  Market,  on  the  west  side.  It  was 
•regularly  occupied  till  superccded  by  an  $8,000  brick  structure,  on  the  north-east 
corner  of  Circle  and  Market  streets,  where  The  JOURNAL  office  now  stands.  Botk 
have  had  to  make  way  for  increased  congregations  and  the  necessities  of  trade,  and 
are  now  represented  by  the  superb  edifice  on  the  corner  of  New  York  and  Penn- 
sylvania streets. 

This  year  was  further  marked,  in  its  religious  developement,  by  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  first  Sunday  School,  as  well  as  the  first  church.  It  met  on  March  6, 
in  the  cabinet  shop  of  Caleb — or,  as  he  was  better  known,  "Squire" — Scudder,  on 
the  Washington  street  siife  of  the  State  House  Square.  No  attempt  was  made  to 
introduce  denominational  differences.  It  was  a  Union  School,  so  called,  and  so  in 
fact.  Its  anniversary  has  been  often  celebrated  with  much  interest,  no  inco  sid- 
erable  number  of  the  first  scholars  being  still  alive  to  relate  their  experiences.  The 
attendance  averaged  about  forty  during  the  first  year;  but  it  was  a  sort  of  luxury 
not  deemed  necessary  to  be  kept  up  through  the  winter,  and  on  the  approach  of  cold 
weather  it  was  suspended  till  the  following  spring.  It  re-appeared  on  its  first  anni- 
versary, and  never  was  suspended  again.  Alter  the  completion  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  1824,  it  was  held  there,  and  continued  there  till  the  growth  of  other 
churches,  and  the  obtrusion  of  denominational  feelings,  called  off  first  one  colony 
and  then  another,  leaving  to  the  old  place  little  more  than  its  Presbyterian 
collection.  The  Methodist  school  was  separately  organized  April  24'h,  1829,  and 
the  Baptist  in  1832.  After  that  each  church  formed  its  Sunday  school  to  itself. 
But  the  Union  lived  alone  six  years,  as  useful  an  institution  as  ever  was  established 
anywhere.  From  an  average  attendance  of  forty  the  first  year,  it  rose  to  an  hun- 
dred an  fifty  before  the  Methodist  "swarm"  left  the  "old  hive,"  and  had  a  library 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  volumes  of  the  now  long-forgotten  rnarble-paper  covered 
books  of  the  type  of  the  "Shepherd  of  Salisbury  Plain."  To  this  union  of  Sunday 
schools  we  owe  the  long-prevalent  fashion  of  celebrating  the  Fourth  of  July  by  a 
procession  of  all  the  Sunday  school  scholar's  of  the  town,  a  march  to  some  conve- 
nient grove,  reading  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  a  speech  by  some  prominent 
lawyer  or  public  man,  and  a  dinner  of  "rusks"  and  water.  This  celebration  con- 
tinued till  the  excitement  of  the  war  banished  it  utterly,  and  it  has  never  been 
repl  "ced  by  any  general  observance.  The  Fourth  of  July  in  the  capital  has  dis- 
appeared except  as  an  idle  holiday,  or  the  occasion  for  some  Society's  pic-nic.  But  in 
1823  the  day  was  the  great  day  of  the  year.  Everybody  celebrated  it.  A  barbecue  was 
made  by  Wilkes  Reagan,  at  his  residence  on  Market  street,  near  the  creek.  Rev. 


ORDER  FOR  REMOVAL  OF  TIIE  CAPITAL.  25 

D.  C.  Proctor,  the  Presbyterian  pastor,  and  the  first  regular  pastor  in  the  town, 
officiated  as  chaplain,  Daniel  B.  Wick  as  reader,  and  Morris  Morris  as  orator.  Rev. 
Isaac  Read  closed  with  a  benediction.  The  "barbecue,"  or  roasting  of  a  deer  or 
beef  whole,  was  the  staple  entertainment  of  all  public  assemblages  of  these  early 
days.  Political  barbacues  were  frequent,  and  the  reader  may  remember  the  noted 
one  giveu  on  the  occasion  of  the  vi»it  of  Henry  Clay  in  1842,  in  Gov.  Noble's  pas- 
ture, east  of  town.  That  was  about  the  last  of  those  old-time  festivities. 

In  the  spring  an  organization  of  physicians  was  formed  called  the  Indiana 
•Central  Medical  Society,  with  Dr  S.  G.  Mitchell  as  president,  and  Dr.  Livingston 
Dunlap  as  secretary.  Its  purpose  seems  to  have  embraced  one  point  more  than  its 
euceessor  of  this  day  ;  for  under  the  law  of  that  day  doctors  were  licensed,  and  this 
association  was  authorized  to  examine  applicants  and  issue  licenses. 

Although,  at  the  beginning  of  1824,  the  rather  disproportionate  amount  of  hotels 
to  other  improvements  indicated  an  expectation  of  the  removal  of  the  capital,  the 
change  was  held  off  by  several  influence* — the  inaccessibility  of  the  town,  its  repu- 
ted bad  health,  its  lack  of  suitable  buildings  or  any  at  all  sufficient  for  the  Legisla- 
ture, and  not  least,  probably,  by  the  fact  that  until  the  session  of  1824  the  new 
county  of  M>irion  had  no  representative  in  that,  body.  But  when  Senator  Gregory 
and  Representative  Paxton  took  their  places,  attention  was  effectively  directed  to 
the  matter,  ai.d  on  the  28th  of  January,  1824,  an  act  was  pas  ed  transferring  the 
seat  of  Government  to  Indianapolis,  ordering  the  removal,  under  the  direction  of 
Samuel  Merrill,  State  Treasurer,  of  the  offices  and  archives,  by  the  10th  of  January 
following,  and  fixing  that  day  for  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  the  new  capitol, 
the  unfinished  Court  house.  This  was  final  as  far  as  authority  went,  and  the  trans- 
fer needed  nothing  but  a  wagon  or  two  to  be  complete.  Our  members,  upon  their 
return  home  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Legislature,  were  given  a  complimentary 
banquet  at  Washington  Hall,  at  which  the  usual  enthusiastic  anticipations  were 
indulged,  with  the  unusual  fortune,  however,  of  being  at  once  above  and  below  the 
truth.  So  far  as  the  influence  of  the  acquisition  of  the  capital  went — and  the  ban- 
queters, of  course,  thought  of  no  oth<er — hope  ran  high  over  the  reality.  So  far  as 
the  ultimate  growth  and  importance  of  the  city,  independent  of  the  capital,  was 
indicated,  the  reality  has  outrun  the  wildest  anticipations.  The  enthusiasm  climbed 
too  high  to  see  clearly  what  was  at  its  feet,  and  not  high  enough  to  see  what  lay 
a  half  century  away.  The  interval,  till  the  momentous  wagon  with  Mr.  Merrill's 
boxes  of  papers  arrived,  was  filled  up  with  some  improvements,  and  some  incidents 
that  deserve  to  be  remembered. 

The  streets  were  still  in  course  of  being  opened  ifco  the  light,  and  the  Court, 
house,  a  school  house,  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  a  building  for  the  State  offices, 
were  going  up.  The  population  had  shifted  considerably,  and  while  the  county 
grew  daily  larger  arid  stronger,  the  town  stood  pretty  nearly  where  the  .impetus 
given  by  the  lot  sales  had  left  it.  Emigrants  made  it  a  stopping  place  where  they 
could  look  about  and  choose  a  location,  and  thus  manj  came  who  did  not  stay.  A 
census  taken  by  the  Union  Sunday  School  Visitors— the  first  of  a  series  of  rather 
useless  statistics  that  were  regularly  collected  for  many  years — indicated  that  the 
"Donation"  contained  about  one  hundred  families,  an  average  population  of  six 
hundred,  of  which  one  hundred  and  seventy-two  were  voters,  and  forty-five 
were  unmarried  women. 

This  was  not  a  very  formidable  strength  if  a  collision  should  occur  with  the 
Shawnees,  whom  the  excellence  of  the  hunting  grounds  still  retained  near  their  old 
town  on  Fall  Creek,  in  Madison  county.  A  war  could  hardly  be  said  to  have  been 


26  HOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

possible,  but  a  "  row "  certainly  was ;  and  the  town  was  easier  to  hurt,  and  had 
more  to  lose,  than  its  possible  assailants.  Consequently  a  feeling  of  insecurity  was 
never  entirely  allayed,  and  it  was  sometimes  excited  to  a  painful  degree.  The  worst 
and  last  of  these  alarms  occurred  on  the  22d  of  March,  1824.  This  was  the  mur- 
der of  nine  Seneca  or  Shawnee  Indians,  two  men,  one  named  Ludlow,  three  women, 
two  boys  and  two  girls,  by  five  whites,  Harper,  Sawyer  and  his  son,  Bridge  and 
bis  son,  and  Hudson.  Hon.  Oliver  H.  Smith,  in  his  "  Early  Indiana  Sketches,"  gives 
an  account  of  the  affair,  and  the  serious  commotion  it  excited  even  as  far  as  the 
national  seat  of  Government.  These  Indians  had  encamped  a  short  time  before  eight 
miles  above  Pendelton,  the  seat  of  the  then  recently  organized  county  of  Madison, 
and  were  watched  with  the  usual  disquietude  of  the  whites.  They  had  been  hunting 
and  trapping  only  a  week,  Mr.  Smith  says,  and  were  just  ready  to  catch  the  rac- 
coons as  they  issued  from  their  winter  holes  to  hunt  frogs  in  the  newly  thawed 
swamps  and  streams.  But  their  collection  of  furs  excited  the  cupidity  of  Harper, 
who,  doubtless,  as  did  most  frontiersmen,  also  retained  the  memory  of  some  injury 
inflicted  by  the  Indians  to  aggravate  his  hate,  and  he  led  his  companions  into  the 
scheme  to  massacre  the  party  and  take  their  peltries.  They  entered  the  camp  under 
the  pretext  of  hunting  their  horses,  and  got  the  Indians  to  go  out  with  them  to  help 
in  the  search.  Harper  took  one  Indian  with  him  and  Hudson  took  the  other,  and  each 
cruelly  shot  his  companion  dead  within  hearing  of  the  women  and  children.  The 
whole  party  then  went  back  to  the  camp,  where  (Sawyer  shot  one  of  the  squaws  and 
Bridge  and  his  son  shot  the  other  two.  The  children  were  shot  with  the  same 
fiendish  deliberation,  but  the  oldest  boy  not  being  quite  dead  when  found,  Sawyer 
took  him  by  the  legs  and  knocked  his  brains  out  against  a  log.  The  bodies  were 
thrown  into  a  pond,  where  the  settlers  found  them  next  day,  one  of  the  women  still 
showing  signs  of  life.  The  camp  was  robbed,  and  the  murderers  escaped,  but  not 
long.  Harper  got  away  to  Ohio,  and  in  those  days,  at  such  a  distance,  he  was  as 
safe  as  he  would  be  now  in  Europe,  and  he  never  was  caught.  The  others  were, 
and  caught  again  after  an  escape  in  July. 

This  terrible  crime  produced  serious  apprehensions.  The  people  in  the  vicinity 
took  refuge  in  the  Pendleton  mills,  and  the  authorities  thought  it  neeessary  to  take 
especial  measures  to  placate  the  Indians.  Col.  John  Johnston,  the  Indian  Agent  at 
Piqua,  Ohio,  and  Mr.  William  Conner  were  dispatched  on  a  mission  of  concilia- 
tion. They  assured  the  tribes  that  the  murderers  should  be  punished,  and  obtained 
a  pi-omise  from  the  chief  that  nothing  hostile  should  be  done  till  they  saw  what  the 
"Great  Father"  would  do.  Whatever  might  have  been  the  laxity  of  popular 
notions  of  justice  to  Indians,  in  this  case  there  was  no  escape  from  a  rigid  adherence 
^o  the  law.  The  Government  employed  General  James  Noble,  then  United  States 
Senator,  to  assist  Calvin  Fletcher,  the  prosecutor,  in  the  prosecution,  and  General 
Noble  brought  with  him  his  son-in-law,  Philip  Sweetser,  a  name  well  known  in 
after  years  at  the  bar  of  Indianapolis  and  in  the  Legislature.  Nearly  all  the  promi- 
nent men  of  the  bar  were  retained  for  the  defense,  among  them  Mr.  Smith  mentions 
Harvev  Gregg,  editor  of  the  Censor,  Lot  Bloomfield,  James  Rariden,  Charles  H. 
Test,  Daniel  B.  Wick,  and  William  R.  Morris,  of  this  State,  and  General  Sampson 
Mason,  and  Moses  Vance,  of  Ohio.  Hudson  was  indicted  and  tried  in  November, 
"in  a  new  log  building,  with  a  puncheon  floor,"  in  Pendleton,  before  Judge  Wick 
with  Associate  Judges  Samuel  Holliday  and  Adam  Winchell,  the  latter  a  black- 
smith, who  ironed  the  prisoners  on  their  arrest.  Mr.  Smith  states  that  W.  R.  Mor- 
ris, for  the  defense,  moved  for  a  habeas  corpus  for  the  prisoners  when  the  case  was 
called,  Judge  Wick  being  absent.  Judge  Winchel!,  after  questioning  the  propriety 


THE  INDIAN  MURDER— GROWTH  OF   TUE  TOWN. 


27 


of  the  motion,  refused  it  flatly  with  the  quaint  remark,  "It  would  do  you  no  good 
to  bring  out  the  prisoners.  I  ironed  them  mself,  and  you  will  never  get  them  irons 
off  until  they  have  been  tried,  habeas  corpus  or  no  habeas  corpus."  Hudson  was 
convicted  and  hung  in  the  winter,  a  number  of  Indians  attending  the  execution. 
This  is  memorable  as  the  first  instance  in  the  history  of  the  United  States  of  the 
legal  execution  of  a  white  man  for  killing  an  Indian.  The  elder  Bridge  and 
Sawyer  were  hung  in  the  following  June.  Young  Say  wer  escaped  with  a  verdict  of 
manslaughter,  and  young  Bridge  was  pardoned  by  Gov.  James  Brown  Ray,  an 
event  which  is  still  remembered  as  an  illustration  of  the  eccentricities  of  that  able 
but  wayward  man.  It  is  said  that  when  young  Bridge  was  placed  under  the  rope 
that  had  hung  his  father,  Gov.  Ray,  who  had  given  no  intimation  of  his  startling 
design,  mounted  the  scaffold,  and  after  a  speech  on  the  enormity  of  the  crime  and 
its  danger  to  the  peace  of  the  community,  announced  directly  to  the  condemned, 
"  No  power  now  remains  but  that  of  the  Almighty  and  the  Executive  of  Indiana,  to 
save  your  life,"  and  announced  to  the  people  his  pardon.  The  Indians  were  content 
with  the  justice  of  the  whites,  and  gave  no  further  trouble.  Indeed,  from  tha^ 
time  Indian  alarms,  on  any  account  whatever,  ceased. 

The  spring  of  this  murder  was  unusually  wet,  and  the  river  rose  enormously, 
higher  than  has  ever  been  known  since,  except  in  1828.  The  flood  of  1847,  the 
next  highest,  was  not  thought  by  Mr.  Nathaniel  Cox  (who  was  thoroughly  familiar 
with  the  river,)  to  have  been  quite  so  high.  In  the  sparsely  settled  s'.ate  of  the 
country  such  an  overflow  was  rather  interesting  than  alarming,  and  a  keel  boat 
called  the  "Dandy"  increased  the  interest  the  town  took  in  the  event  by  coming 
up  with  a  load  of  backwoods  necessaries,  whisky  and  salt.  But  neither  the  freshet, 
nor  the  excitement  caused  by  the  Indian  massacre,  stopped  the  slow  movement  of 
such  enterprises  as  were  attempted,  and  religion  received  a  full  share  of  whatever 
effort  was  made.  The  Methodists  held  their  first  quarterly  meeting  in  the  Presby- 
rian  church  on  the  25th  of  May,  under  James  Scott,  a  missionary  sent  out,  as  before 
stated,  by  the  St.  Louis  Conference  in  1821.  Before  this  the  meetings  had  been  semi- 
occasional  gathering^,  as  zeal  and  opportunity  suggested,  and  held  at  private  houses. 
Camp  meetings  had  been  collected  every  year,  but  still  the  Methodist  growth  de- 
manded something  fixed  in  the  fashion  of  settled  religious  communities.  But 
though  they  organized  their  church  in  1824  they  were  not  able  to  get  a  bouse  till 
the  next  year,  when  they  built  on  Maryland  street  east  of  Meridian.  In  secular 
affairs  it  is  to  be  noticed  that  a  military  school  was  opened  in  January  by  a  Major 
Sullinger,  for  the  instruction  of  militia  officers  and  soldiers, — an  enterprise  that 
would  seem  to  be  about  as  urgently  demanded  as  a  teacher  of  painting  in  a  blind 
asylum.  A  real  estate  agency  was  also  established  this  year,  by  W.  C.  McDougal, 
but  that  seems  to  have  been  nearly  as  far  ahead  of  the  times  as  the  premature  West 
Point.  But  the  country,  as  before  remarked,  was  filling  up,  new  farms  were  appear- 
ing, trade  growing,  and  emigrants  coming  and  scattering.  The  Fourth  of  July 
brought  the  usual  celebration,  and,  as  before,  at  Wilkes  Reagan's.  One  speech  was 
made  by  Gabriel  J.  Johnson  to  the  citizens,  and  another  by  Major  Redding  to  the 
militia.  Obed  Foote  read  the  declaration,  and  Reagan  of  course  furnished  the  bar- 
becue. In  August  there  was  a  warm  contest  for  the  office  of  sheriff  between  Major 
Alexander  W.  Russell  and  Morris  Morris.  The  old  rivalry  between  Kentucky  and 
Whitewater  had  disappeared.  It  was  Kentucky  against  Kentucky  now.  Russell 
was  elected  by  265  votes  to  148.  •  In  November  the  great  contest  between  Clay, 
Adams  and  Jackson,  occurred.  The  Kentucky  influence  was  paramount,  and  Claj 
got  217  votes  to  99  for  Jackson,  and  16  for  Adams.  The  Clay  men  made  a  regular 


gg  HOLLO-WAY'S  IXDIASAPOLIS. 

organization  on  the  17th  of  July,  with  James  Paxton  as  President,  and  Hiram 
Brown  as  Secretary. 

In  November  Mr.  Samuel  Merrill,  with  the  aid  of  a  heavy  wagon,  traveling  at 
the  rate  of  twelve  and  a  half  miles  a  day,  brought^  our  new  capital  here.  He  put  the 
Treasurer's  office  and  residence  in  the  brick  building,  long  a  well  known  remnant  of 
early  days,  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Washington  and  Tennessee  streets,  and  there 
it  remained  till  the  little  office  got  too  small  for  it.  The  new  State  offices  occupy  its 
place.  The  Governor  had  to  live  like  anybody  else,  where  he  could  get  a  house,  and 
this  unfixed  condition  of  the  Executive  household  continued  till  the  administration 
of  Gov.  Wallace,  in  .838,  when  the  residence,  then  the  finest  in  the  town,  erected  by 
Dr.  John  Sanders,  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Market  and  Illinois  streets,  was  pur- 
chased for  a  Governor's  mansion.  The  Court  House  was  not  finished,  but  it  was 
hurried  up  to  allow  the  first  meeting  of  the  Legislature  to  be  held  there.  The  ap- 
proach of  the  capital,  in  all  the  glory  of  the  State  seal,  and  legislative  wisdom,  sug- 
gested to  the  citizens  to  get  a  foretaste  of  the  coming  pleasure  by  organizing  a  legis- 
lature of  their  own.  They  did  it,  called  it  the  Indianapolis  Legislature,  and,  with 
all  the  leading  citizens  in  it,  made  it  a  really  entertaining  assembly,  and  an  instruct- 
ive one,  too.  It  had  the  same  offices  and  rules,  received  messages,  and  discussed 
State  measures,  as  the  authoritative  body  did,  and  did  it  better  The  Governor's 
election  was  fixed  to  take  place  whenever  a  new  subject  of  debate  was  needed,  and 
his  message  would  furnish  it.  When  the  re.il  Legislature  met,  many  of  its  members 
joined  the  other,  and,  as  both  discussed  the  same  topics,  the  action  of  the  former  was 
not  unfrequently  settled  in  the  debates  .of  the  latter. 


SZCOND    PERIOD—TO    1 


h  a  p  t 


REMOVAL     OF     TUB     CAPITAL — FIEST     MEETING     OF     THK     LEGISLATURE— SALE     OF 

RESERVED     LOTS. 

E  transfer  of  the  capital  to  Indianapolis,  though  really  accomplished  in  No- 
vember  of  .1824,  with  the  coming  of  the  State  offices  and  officers,  made  little 
more  difference  in  the  condition  of  the  town  than  the  arrival  of  any  other  four 
or  five  new  settlers.  It  was  not  till  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature,  on  the  ICth  of 
January,  1825,  in  pursuance  of  the  act  noticed  in  the  last  chapter,  that  the  change 
showed  itself  visibly  Then  the  addition  of  nearly  a  hundred  men,  with  all  the 
hangers  on  of  If-gislative  bodies,  the  families  of  snch  n&  could  easily  bring  them,  or 
would  not  come  without  them,  and  the  influx  of  those  w^)o  then,  as  now,  had  "axes 
to  grind,"  made  such  a  stir  in  the  sluggish  Tillage  as  one  of  this  day  can  form  no 
conception  of.  Ib  was  very  much  like  doubling  the  population,  as  well  as  giving  it 
new  and  exciting  topics  of  talk,  and  incentives  to  speculation.  Business  becama 
lively  and  society  animated.  Religion  found  new  objects  of  exhortation,  and  litera- 
ture a  new  audience  of  no  trifling  cultivation.  The  vices  too  bad  their  sources  of 
nourishment  in  the  ehange,  and  the  effect  was  generally  an  exhilaration  not  a  little 
like  that  following  a  "square  drink."  No  wonder  the  little  town  while  it  lay  idle 
and  unapproachable  in  the  woods  looked  with  longing  fur  this  change.  But  prop- 
erty was  shrewder  than  the  population,  and  touched  speculations  lightly.  To  the 
cool  eye,  formed  of  a  dollar,  the'e  was  not  much  promise  in  an  acquisition  that 
came  for  two  or  three  months  in  the  year,  and  left  nothing  when  it  went  away. 
Crowds  came  in  from  the  adjacent  country  to  see  the  "  big  bugs,"  as  the  legislators 
were  generally  called  in  the  Hoosier  vernacular,  but  as  they  came  to  stare  and  did 
not  stay  to  trade  they  benefited  nobody  but  the  "grocery,"  the  predecessor  of  the 
"saloon,"  and  use  soon  made  the  "show"  too  cheap  to  go  through  the  mud  and 
snow  to  see.  There  was  no  permanent  growing  influence  visible  in  the  great  acqui- 
sition, after  all.  So  town  lots  stood  pretty  steady,  and  were  first  stirred  into  a  fever 
of  speculation  on  the  approach  of  the  Internal  Improvement  system  of  1836.  Pop- 
ulation grew  slowly.  Indianapolis  was  merely  a  county  town,  with  one  unusually 
largj  and  interesting  session  of  court  more  than  other  county  towns,  that  was  all. 
And  thus  it  remained  till  184-7,  or  rather  till  the  influence  emanating  from  the  work 
completed  in  1847-,  first  showed  itself.  Thus  it  would  have  remained  till  the  last,  so 
far  as  any  change  depended  on  the  possession  of  the  capital.  This  advantage  was 
something  like  a  fairy's  bad  gift,  which  would  only  do  one  thing,  and  prevented  the 
owner  from  doing  anything  with  anything  else.  It  was  the  town's  main  deden- 


3Q  HOLLOWATS  1XDFAXAPOLIS. 

ence,  after  the  local  trade  that  every  settlement  had  in  an  equal  measure  and  the 
meeting  of  the  Legislature  was  looked  to  as  anxiously,  and  made  the  condition  of 
bargains,  the  prospect  of  clearing  off  stock?,  or  opening  new  trades,  as  regularly  as 
the  arrival  of  a  caravan  in  a  desert  town,  and  yet  it  was  a  dependence  that  prom- 
ised nothing  more  in  1870  than  it  had  accomplished  in  1825.  Its  first  and  only 
permanent  addition  to  the  property  of  the  town  was  the  location  here  of  the  Benev- 
olent Institutions.  This  was  not  much,  but  it  was'  permanent,  so  far  as  it  went. 
These  twenty-two  years  formed  a  period  of  legislative  dependence. 

The  unfinished  Court  house  (now  gone),  was  put  in  such  order  as  was  possible 
to  receive  the  General  Assembly.  The  House  met  in  the  court  room  on  the  ground 
floor,  the  Senate  up  stairs.  And  here  the  sessions  were  held  till  December,  1835, 
when  the  new  State  House  was  first  occupied.  Being  brought  face  to  face  with  the 
unimproved  condition  of  the  capital,  and  compelled  to  endure  its  evils  in  their  own 
persons,  the  legislators  naturally  enough  concluded  to  do  something  (o  alleviate  it, 
and  on  the  12th  of  February  ordered  the  laying  off  and  sale  of  a  range  of  ten  four- 
acre  out-lots  on  the  north,  and  another  on  the  south,  side  of  the  town  plat.  Similar 
ranges  had  been  ordered  the  year  before  by  the  Legislature,  and  sold  at  an  average 
price  of  about  $100  each,  the  highest  bringing  $155,  and  the  new  ranges  lay  out- 
side of  these.  The  reserved  lots  on  Washington  street  were  also  ordered  to  be  sold, 
the  "bottom"  of  Pogue's  Creek  cleared  out  to  the  extent  that  $50  would  do  it,  and 
the  ferry  leased  for  five  years.  The  sale  of  out  and  reserved  lots  was  made  in  May, 
at  rates  which  indicated,  as  has  already  been  said,  no  enthusiastic  hopes  of  a  specu- 
lation from  the  possession  of  the  capital.  The  best  Washington  street  lots  went 
for  $360,  and  the  lowest  at  $134.  Only  seventeen  were  sold,  and  they  brought  only 
$3,328  into  the  treasury  of  the  town  agent,  Mr.  B.  I.  Blythe.  The  twenty  four-acre 
out  lots  brought  but  S18  an  acre,  and  an  aggregate  of  $1,467.  The  valley  of  the 
creek  was  not  very  largely  cleared,  for  $50  would  not  go  far  towards  it,  and  though 
but  a  corner  of  the  plat  was  cut  off  by  it,  there  were  trees  and  thickets  left  on  it 
for  many  a  year  afterwards.  Between  its  muddy  borders  and  regular  overflows,  it 
was  about  as  uncomfortable  a'stream  of  its  sue  a*  could  be  found  in  the  State.  But 
"every  little  helped,"  and  the  work  of  the  Legislature  and  of  the  citi/ens  was 
slowly  getting  the  town  out  of  the  woods;  and  suggesting  the  direction  of  streets  to 
the  nearest  farms  off  Washington  street  Tke  churches  were  busy,  and  several 
societies  for  benevolent  purposes  were  organized.  On  the  18th  of  April  the  Indian- 
apolis Bible  Society  was  formed;  and,  except  the  two  churches,  it  is  the  only  organ- 
ization of  that  day  that  remains.  It  was  a  woman's  affair  mainly,  and  was  promo- 
ted zealously  by  the  wife  of  the  eccentric  and  since  greatly  distinguished  Oriental 
scholar,  George  Bush,  the  second  regular  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  The 
Marion  County  Bible  So:iety  was  also  organized,  with  an  auxiliary  tract  society; 
and  these  seem  to  have  been  the  men'a  share  of  the  same  work  that  the  women 
were  doing  in  their  Society.  Bethuel  F.  Morris  was  the  first  president,  and  James 
M.  Kay  secretary  of  it.  An  Agricultural  Society  was  formed,  too,  with  Henry 
Bradley  and  Calvin  Fletcher  at  its  head;  but  it  was,  like  the  Medical  Association 
and  the  theatre,  premature,  and  died  soon.  There  was  not  enough  agriculture 
within  easy  reach  of  the  town  to  have  furnished  the  Society  with  a  subject,  if  it 
had  been  ever  so  well  attended.  The  land  Office  was  removed  here  from  Brook- 
•ville,  and  the  new  capital  then  had  the  benefit  of  the  patronage  of  the  General  Gov- 
ernment, such  as  it  was.  The  first  Methodist  church  was  built,  or  rather  bought, 
in  the  summer  of  this  year.  It  was  a  hewed  leg  building  on  the  south  side  of  Ma- 
ryland between  Meridian  and  Pennsylvania  streets.  It  was  supplanted  in  1829  by 


SHIFTING  SETTLEMENT—  POPULATION  IN  182fi.  gj 

the  old  building  on  Meridian  street  on  the  site  of  the  Sentinel  office,  which  was 
succeeded  in  1846  by  Wesley  chapel,  and  by  Koberts  chapel,  on  the  northeast  corner 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Market  streets,  three  years  earlier,  the  original  church  dividing 
in  1842  into  two  congregations,  Wesley  and  Huberts. 

The  indifferent  progress  the  town  evinced  by  the  low  price  of  the  reserved  lots 
on  Washington  street,  sold  in  1825,  and  the  frequent  forfeitures  of  lots  bought  at 
the  first  sale,  induced  the  Legislature,  in  1826,  to  enact  a  protection  for  purchasers, 
which  would,  without  it,  have  lost  their  first  payments,  and  probably  have  left  the 
place.  Besides  the  usual  scarcity  of  money  in  new  settlements,  a  good  many  pur- 
chasers were  cramped  by  a  desire  to  exchange  their  river  lots  for  others  further  east, 
where  it  was  thought  the  annual  visitation  of  chills  and  fever  was  less  severe.  The 
act  of  the  Legislature  endeavered  to  meet  both  difficulties,  by  extending  the  time 
on  the  deferred  payment?,  and  allowing  purchasers  of  mere  than  one  lot  to  surren- 
der such  as  they  desired,  and  transfer  the  payments  to  others  in  better  situations. 
Under  this  permission  river  lots  were  rapidly  abandoned,  and  the  town  moved 
eastward  so  entirely  that  it  is  only  within  the  past  ten  or  fifteen  years  that  the 
growth  of  manufacturing  establishments  in  that  direction  has  largely  filled  up  the 
site  of  the  river  settlement.  A  growing  doubt  of  the  navigable  capacity  of  the 
river  strengthened  this  eastward  tendency.  There  was  little  probability  of  such 
river  trade  as  would  counterbalance  the  disadvantages  of  its  neighborhood  to  resi- 
dences. It  was,  in  fact,  rather  a  drawback  than  a  benefit  to  the  town ;  for  it  cut  off 
the  settlements  on  the  west,  in  a  measure,  hy  crippling  their  means  of  communica- 
tion. There  was  nothing  but  a  ferry  to  connect  the  opposite  banks,  and  it  was  a  tax 
on  the  pockets  as  well  as  the  patience  of  the  people,  though  the  Legislature  did 
what  it  could  to  make  it  efficient  by  erecting  a  brick  ferry  house  in  the  summer  of 
the  year  following  (1827)  at  the  foot  of  Washington  street — the  National  Road  had 
not  at  that  time  come  alon^,  to  turn  the  line  of  travel  and  residence  away  from  the 
street,'  as  it  is  now,  and  the  latter  was  the  main  thoroughfare — which  considera- 
bly changed  and  improved,  is  still  standing,  though  partially  burned  fifteen  years 
ago.  This  eastward  movement  of  population  and  business  is  not  the  only  fluctua- 
tion that  has  marked  the  growth  of  the  city.  The  Internal  Improvement  system 
of  1836  excited  a  wild  speculation  in  lots  along  the  site  of  the  Central  Canal  and 
drew  settlement  in  that  direction,  till  1840.  Then  it  shifted  eastward  again;  then, 
with  the  completion  of  the  Madison  Railroad,  it  pushed  southward,  leaving  busi- 
ness mainly  along  Washington  street;  and  then,  with  the  completion  of  other  roads, 
it  scattered  in  other  directions,  and  began  marking  the  outlines  of  that  develop- 
ment which  have  been  since  so  astonishingly  filled  up. 

But  all  that  the  Legislature,  and  all  that  the  prospects  of  the  future  capita^ 
could  do,  added  but  little  to  the  growth  attained  directly  after  the  first  sale  of  town 
lots.  The  population  in  February,  1826,  was  seven  hundred  and  sixty-two  souls, 
of  whom  two  hundred  and  nine  were  children,  and  one  hundred  and  s'xty-one 
attendants  upon  the  Union  Sunday  School.  The  unfortunate  reputation  for  sick- 
ness created  by  the  epidemic  of  1821  was  still  an  active  retarding  influence,  and 
occasional  general  attacks  of  other  diseases  kept  its  strength  undiminished.  A 
very  wet  spring,  in  this  y^ar,  raised  all  the  streams,  stepped  the  mails,  interfered 
with  farming,  and  the  influenza  joined  forces  with  the  weather  to  resist  immigration. 

The  local  incidents  of  this  year  are  few  and  of  no  special  interest.  An  artillery 
company  was  formed  under  Capt.  James  Blake,  and  a  cannon  obtained  from  the 
Government,  mainly  to  make  a  noise  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  and  provide  cripples 
for  charity  and^ublic  support.  Two  or  three  of  the  latter  were  the  trophies  of  the 


32  EOLLOWAT'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

first  ten  years  of  its  existence.  A  fire  company  -was  formed  in  June,  with  John 
Hawkins  as  president,  and  James  M.  Ray  secretary.  Mr.  Ray's  experience  is  a  not 
unusual  one  in  older  settlements  than  Indianapolis,  He  was  not  gifted  for  show 
and  parade,  but  he  was  a  roost  serviceable  worker,  and  he  was  accordingly  made 
secretary  of  pretty  much  every  association  that  was  formed,  just  as  he  is  now  put 
forward  in  every  movement  of  public  interest  or  directed  to  benevolent  objects. 
The  fire  company  operated  with  buckets  and  ladders,  because  the  town  could  not 
afford  to  buy  an  engine,  and  did  not  till  1835,  when  the  Marion  Fire  Company  was 
organized  and  took  its  place.  Lorenzo  Dow,  the  eccentric  itinerant  preacher,  who 
could  probably  boast  with  more  justice  of  the  extent  of  his  travels  than  the  good 
they  had  done,  preached  in  June,  in  a  grove  south  of  South  street,  a  little  east  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  from  the  Court  house  step.?.  There  was  a  large  emigration 
through  the  town  during  the  fall,  as  there  continued  to  be  for  may  years  afterwards, 
but  little  stopped  near  enough  to  benefit  it.  The  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July 
was  the  event  of  the  year,  after  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature,  and  this  year  it 
brought  out  the  Rev.  George  Bush — since  known  throughout  the  learned  world  for 
his  scholarship  and  religious  vagaries — as  chaplain,  Dr.  Livingston  Dunlap  as 
reader  of  the  Declaration,  and  Calvin  Fletcher  as  orator.  Tbe  coincidence  of  the 
deaths  of  John  Adams  and  Thomas  Jefferson  on  that  day  would,  with  our  tele- 
graph, have  added  an  intense  and  mournful  interest  to  the  occasion,  but  it  was  a 
month  before  it  was  known  in  the  heart  of  the  White  River  wilderness.  On  the 
12th  of  August  a  public  demonstration  was  made  in  honor  of  the  illustrious  dead, 
so  singularly  associated  and  opposed  in  all  the  great  events  of  our  national  history, 
and  still  more  singularly  associated  in  their  deaths.  The  meeting  was  held  at  the 
Courthouse,  and  B.  F.  Morris  and  Douglass  Maguire  pronounced  eulogies  on  the 
departed. 

The  opening  of  the  year  1827  was  signalized  by  an  attempt  of  our  Indian 
Agent,  General  John  Tipton,  to  procure  a  lot  of  stock,  farming  cattle,  hogs  and 
wagons  for  the  Indians,  of  whom  some  considerable  land  grante  had  been  obtained 
by  the  treaty  of  Fort  Wayne  in  1826.  It  created  some  activity  in  business,  but  the 
failure  to  deliver  the  articles,  caused  by  the  high  waters  of  the  spring,  disappointed 
the  Indians,  and  did  as  much  harm  as  good.  But  a  worse  disappointment  was  pre- 
pared for  the  whites,  though  it  was  longer  coming.  Premature  enterprise  is  almost 
as  bad  as  no  enterprise  at  all.  Probably  it  is  worse,  for  it  leaves  a  forbidding  pre- 
cedent behind  it.  The  beginning  of  this  year  inaugurated  by  far  the  greatest  of 
the  efforts  that  was  ever  made,  till  the  railroads  came,  to  establish  manufactures 
here,  and  the  most  deplorable  failure.  It  is  not  easy,  looking  back  from  this  time, 
to  understand  how  prudent  men  could  have  imposed  on  themselves  the  notion  that 
manufacturing,  on  any  considerable  scale,  could  be  carried  on  without  any  means  to 
obtain  raw  material  or  dispose  of  the  manufactures;  but  some  of  the  shrewdest  men 
of  that  day,  or  a  later  day,  thought  it  could  be  done,  and  tried  it.  The  Legislature 
led  the  wav,  on  the  26th  of  January,  by  ordering  the  sale  of  seven  acres  of  land 
fronting  the  river  and  Fall  Creek  bottom,  as  a  site  for  a  steam  mill.  During  the 
year  an  association  was  formed  called  the'  Steam  mill  Company,  with  §20,000  capi- 
tal in  $50  shares,  which  was  chartered  by  the  Legislature  on  the  28th  of  January, 
1828.  The  active  men  were  James  M.  Ray,  James  Blake  and  Nicholas  McCarty; 
but  with  all  the  confidence  felt  in  their  integrity  and  judgment,  there  was  a  healthy 
doubt  in  the  public  mind  whether  they  were  not,  in  the  language  of  the  country, 
"setting  their  coulter  a  little  too  deep."  Tfc»  profit  was  not  visible,  where  the  cost 
was  so  evident  and  the  returns  so  uncertain.  Stock  was  slowly  taken  during  the 


THE  OLD  STEAM  MILL.  gg 

two  years  following  the  granting  of  the  charter,  and  in  1831  the  work  was  com- 
menced. It  was  to  comprise  a  grist  mill,  a  saw  mill  and  a  woolen  mill,  and  it 
made  preparations  equal  to  its  pretensions.  The  saw  mill  was  to  be  placed  on  the 
west  side,  on  the  slope  of  the  bluff,  and  the  other  building  on  the  plateau  above 
with  three  full  stories,  and  two  formed  in  the  high  sloping  roof,  making  five  in  all. 
The  grist  mill  was  to  occupy  the  lower,  and  the  woolen  mill  the  upper,  stories. 
James  Griswold,  a  gigantic  carpenter,  still  famed  in  local  tradition  for  honest  work, 
made  the  frame,  and  it  was  so  well  made  that  it  might  have  stood  a  life  time  longer, 
when  it  was  burned  in  1853.  It  took  a  hundred  men  two  days  to  raise  it,  and  it 
was  noted  as  a  memorable  incident  that  no  whisky  was  used  on  the  occasion,  which, 
on  the  "  Brick  Lane  Branch"  theory,  will  account  for  the  soundness  of  the  timbers. 
The  steam  apparatus  was  "wagoned"  out  from  Cincinnati  in  1831,  a  feat  but  little 
less  in  magnitude  than  hauling  Pittsburg  over  the  Alleghanies  in  these  days.  It 
was  to  have  come  by  steamer,  but  the  steamer  could  not  come.  This  was  the  first 
steam  engine  ever  brought  to  the  place.  It  was  set  to  work  in  the  saw  mill  soon 
after  it  was  put  in  place,  and  later,  in  1832,  the  grist  mill  was  set  running.  The 
woolen  division  never  did  much.  The  enterprise  showed  in  a  year  that  it  was  not 
going  to  pay.  Wood  was  handy  and  cheap,  but  not  cheap  enough  to  compensate 
for  the  lack  of  business.  There  was  no  sawing  or  grinding  to  do  except  for  local 
consumption,  and  so  large  a  mill  soon  did  that  and  was  left  idle.  In  1835  the  thing 
was  given  up,  the  machinery  offered  for  sale,  but  much  of  it  never  sold,  except 
for  old  iron,  and  the  vast  building  left  as  a  haunt  for  idle  boys  on  rainy  days,  who 
played  cards  in  the  saw  pit,  and  taken  for  an  extemporaneous  brothel  and  hiding 
place  for  thieves  and  their  plunder.  For  many  a  year  the  boilers,  that  it  had  cost  such 
tremendous  effort  to  get  here  through  the  mud,  lay  and  rusted,  and  the  really  fine 
engines  were  battered  and  broken  as  it  pleased  the  destructive  whims  of  loafers.  In 
1847,  when  the  railroads  opened  up  a  prospect  of  business,  the  Geisendorffs  took 
the  old  mill,  and  made  a  little  headway  with  it  in  their  business  of  wool  carding 
and  spinning,  but  they  left  it  in  five  years,  and  the  next  year  after,  on  the  night  of 
the  26th  of  November,  it  was  set  on  fire  and  utterly  destroyed,  and  came  very  near 
destroying  the  National  Road  bridge  too.  Ho  speedy  a  collapse  of  so  great  an 
enterprise  had  a  dispiriting  effect,  and  nothing  in  the  manufacturing  way  was 
attempted  till  facilities  for  transportation  opened  a  reasonable  prospect  of  business. 

At  the  same  time,  January  26th,  that  the  Legislature  ordered  the  sale  of  the 
steam  mill  site,  it  ordered  several  other  improvements.  First  among  these,  proba- 
bly to  raise  money  for  the  others,  was  the  sale  of  all  the  unsold,  forfeited  and  reserved 
lots,  and  the  vacation  of  several  alleys  and  squares.  These  sales  were  made  in  May 
following,  7th  and  8th,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty  were  sold,  at  $180  an  acre,  and 
thirty-eight  four-acre  blocks  at  $23  an  acre.  The  fund  thus  raised  or  secured, 
helped  to  build  the  Supreme  Court  Clerk's  office  on  the  site  of  the  present  county 
building,  and  a  residence  for  the  Governor  on  the  Circle,  which  he  never  occupied. 
The  Clerk's  OfBce  was  a  little  one  story  brick  building,  placed  close  to  Delaware 
street,  on  a  line  with  the  Court  house.  It  was  eighteen  by  thirty-six  feet,  and  was 
divided  into  two  rooms,  the  eastern  one  used  as  the  working  office,  the  other  as  a 
depository  of  records,  and  of  what  was  left  of  the  Indiana  Historical  Society.  It 
was  torn  down  in  1855  to  make  room  for  the  present  county  offices,  and  the  Clerk's 
office  was  removed  first  to  the  Governor's  Circle,  and  afterwards  to  the  Supreme 
Court  room  at  the  State  House. 

On  the  26th  of  January  an  appropriation  of  $4,000  was  made  to  build  a  resi- 
dence for  the  Governor  in  the  "Circle"  lot.    Why  this  location  was  never  deemed 
(3) 


34  HOLLOW  ATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

suitable  for  the  State  House,  it  is  not  easy  at  this  day  to  conjecture.  It  is  large 
enough,  it  is  the  highest  point  in  the  original  plat  of  the  city,  it  is  central,  and  it 
lies  off  the  main  business  street  with  its  disturbing  uproar  and  constant  crowd  of 
passengers.  But  it  was  here  that  the  Legislature  resolved  to  place  the  Governor's 
house.  The  act  making  the  appropriation  ordered  the  Circle  to  be  enclosed  by  an 
elegant  and  tasteful  "  rail "  fence,  by  the  first  of  May  of  that  year,  so  as  to  be  ready 
for  the  work  on  the  house  which  was  let  on  the  17th  of  March,  to  Smith,  Culbert- 

•• 

son,  Bishop  and  Speaks.  The  building  never  was  finished.  It  was  found  to  be 
utterly  unsuitable  for  a  private  residence,  and  no  attempt  was  made  to  carry  the 
work  beyond  the  point  necessary  to  suit  it  for  public  offices.  It  was  a  large  square 
building,  two  full  stories  high,  with  a  low  slightly  inclined  roof,  covering  an  attic 
story  which  was  lighted  by  a  dormer  window  on  each  of  the  four  sides.  On  the 
roof  was  a  "flat"  about  twelve  feet  square,  surrounded  by  a  low  balustrade,  which 
was  intended  fora  resort  in  the  "cool  of  the  evening,"  and  a  pleasant  place  to 
overlook  the  town.  The  floor  of  the  first  story  was  raised  some  four  feet  or  so 
above  the  ground,  and  was  reached  by  a  broad  flight  of  steps  at  each  side.  The 
basement  was  about  half  cellar  and  half  ground  floor,  and  was  for  many  years  the 
resort  of  school  boys  for  playing  l'hide-and-whoop,"  and  "circus,"  and  whatever 
fun  was  uppermost.  One  of  the  rooms  was  used  by  the  Union  Literary  Society, 
until  the  State  Auditor  gave  it  permission  to  occupy  a  first-floor  room.  These 
•basement  vaults  were  used  for  worse  purposes  often,  and  were  held  by  school  girls 
-and  the  younger  boys  in  some  dread,  as  a  place  of  unclean  spirits,  which  supersti- 
tiyn  was  only  so  far  wrong  as  it  disallowed  the  spirits  to  be  in  the  flesh.  The  first 
floor  was  divided  from  north  to  south  and  east  to  west  by  two  wide  halls,  crossing 
at  right  angles,  making  a  large  room  in  each  of  the  four  corners.  The  second  story 
was  formed  into  smaller  rooms.  The  attic  was  open,  and  used  chiefly  for  a  place 
of  deposit  for  abandoned  United  States  mustcets  and  equipments,  placed  there  at 
some  ui.known  period,  and  plundered  by  the  boys  as  they  saw  anything  in  the  arms 
they  wanted.  The  upper  rooms  were  occupied  as  "chambers  "  by  the  Supreme 
Judges,  and  Judge  Blackford  kept  one  from  the  time  the  house  was  built  until  it 
was  torn  down.  A  bachelor  lawyer,  also,  occasionally  had  a  room  there.  The  first 
floor  was  used  by  the  State  officers  for  many  years,  and  contaimd,  at  different  peri- 
ods, the  State  Library,  the  State  Bank,  the  State  Engineer's  office,  the  Clerk's  office 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  the  Common  Pleas  Court  when  first  created,  the  Union  Lit- 
erary Society,  Cox  and  Waugh's  Temperance  Panorama,  and  nobody  now  knows 
what  besides.  In  1829  a  proposition  was  made  to  add  wings  to  the  east  and  west 
sides  and  turn  it  into  a  State  House,  but.  it  was  hardly  pretentious  enough  for  that, 
and  the  project  failed.  In  1857  it  was  ordered  to  be  sold  at  auction,  and  in  April 
it  was  sold  and  torn  down,  the  material  going  to  build  the  Macy  House. 

The  Marion  Fire  Engine  House  also  stood  on  the  Circle,  on  the  north  side — if 
there  is  a  side  to  a  Circle — and  was  for  many  years  a  spot  of  no  li'tle  interest  to  the 
emulous  and  devoted  young  gentlemen  who  ran  "  wid  der  machine."  The  old 
house  was  frequently  bruken  into  and  occupied  by  prostitutes,  and  it  was  once  or 
twice  set  on  fire,  and  was  finally  destroyed  in  1851. 

The  Circle  was  made  a  park  by  the  city,  but  misused  for  a  cow  pasture  and  a 
play  ground  till  its  trees  and  grass  were  ruined,  and  then  (1867),  it  was  closely  and 
elegantly  fenced  and  shut  out  from  the  public  entirely.  Now  it  is  a  beautiful  spot, 
and  annually  becoming  more  beautiful.  It  will  soon  be  as  pretty  a  little  park  as 
can  be  found  anywhere.  Handsome  residences  and  imposing  business  houses  are 
rising  round  it,  and  making  it  the  center  of  the  most  impressive  portion  of  the  city. 


VXIVEBSITY  SQUARE  AND  <fOUNTY  SEMINARY.  35 

Another  appropriation  of  lots  to  public  uses  was  made  on  the  26th  day  of 
January  by  the  Legislature,  that  of  square  25  for  a  State  University,  and  square 
22  for  a  State  Hospital.  This  was  done  in  connection  with  an  order  for  the  sale  of 
forfeited  and  reserved  lots  and  the  vacation  of  certain  alleys  and  squares.  The  his- 
tory of  one  of  these  appropriated  blocks,  that  now  called  University  Square,  has 
been  even  more  eventful  than  that  of  the  Circle.  In  the  first  place  its  dedication 
to  a  "State  University,"  has  enabled  the  State  University  at  Bloomington  to  make 
a  color  of  claim  to  it,  and  out  of  that  claim  has  grown  a  succession  of  controversies 
that  have  ended  in  nothing  but  a  determination  on  the  part  of  the  city  that  the 
Bloomington  institution  shall  not  have  it,  and  this  determination  is  mainly  based 
on  the  sufficient  argument  that  Bloomington  has  no  right  to  it.  The  arguments  on 
both  sides,  though  interesting  enough,  are  rather  voluminous  for  this  work,  and, 
besides,  are  hardly  relevant.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  legal  opinions  have  been 
expended  on  it  at  the  proverbial  length  of  legal  documents,  without  deciding  any- 
thing, and  the  Legislature  has  authorized  the  city  to  make  a  park  of  it  till  some 
better  use  can  be  found  for  it,  and  the  city  has  done  it. 

The  first  purpose  to  which  it  was  applied  was  as  the  site  for  the  county  seminary  ^ 
In  1832  the  Legislature  authorized  the  lease  of  it  to  the  trustees  of  the  seminary 
for  thirty  years,  with  the  proviso  that  they  should  build  on  either  the  south  east  or 
south  west  corner,  and  if  it  should  be  needed  for  Unversity  purposes  before  the 
expiration  of  the  lease,  a  half  acre  about  the  building  should  be  sold  or  otherwise 
secured  to  the  school.  In  1833-34  the  trustees  built,  on  the  south  west  corner,  the 
old  county  seminary  building,  which  to  many  a  man  of  middle  age  in  the  city 
embodies  the  best  recollections  of  his  youth.  It  was  two  stories  high,  fronting  New 
York  street,  with  a  projecting  lobby  at  each  end,  ostensibly  for  stair  cases  to  the 
upper  story,  but  really  for  the  boys  to  put  away  their  shinny  clubs  and  ball  bats. 
It  was  divided  into  two  rooms  of  unequal  size  below,  and  a  lecture  room,  and  a 
teacher's  private  room,  with  a  small  room  adjoining,  above.  The  lecture  room  was 
the  scene  of  annual  terror  and  joy  to  the  pupils  for  many  a  year,  as  there  were  held 
the  examinations  and  exhibitions,  which,  in  those  days  of  primitive  simplicity  and 
few  public  pleasures,  constituted  nearly  as  attractive  an  entertainment  as  the  opera 
does  now.  It  was  also  the  first  church  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  and  of  Rev.  B. 
F.  Foster,  the  Universalist.  In  fact,  in  very  early  days,  the  lower  room  of  the 
seminary  was  used  as  a  meetiug  place  for  several  churches  which  were  too  weak  to 
erect  a  building.  The  Christian  congregation,  or  what  afterwards  became  so,  used 
to  hold  meetings  in  the  larger  of  the  lower  rooms,  and  there  the  Kev.  James 
McVey,  who  will  be  remembered  by  many  of  the  older  members  of  the  church,  as 
a  very  eloquent  and  rather  "uncertain"  preacher,  first  held  forth  in  this  city. 

The  lower  rooms  were  first  put  in  charge  of  Mr.  E.  Dumont  in  September, 
1834.  But  then,  and  for  several  years  afterwards,  the  school  had  formidable  rivals, 
for,  though  owned  by  the  county,  and  the  teacher  was  appointed  or  approved  by 
the  trustees,  it  was  essentially  a  private  school.  Mr.  Dumont  was  succeeded  in  the 
following  January  by  Mr.  W.  J.  Hill.  He  by  Thomas  D.  Gregg,  in  the  following 
May.  William  Sullivan  next  took  the  school,  in  December,  1836,  and  Wm.  A. 
Holliday  in  August,  1837.  Up  to  this  time  no  teacher  had  kept  the  school  a  year. 
But  Mr.  Holliday  managed  to  retain  it  till  October,  1838  and  he  had  a  formidable 
rival  in  Gilman  Marston,  since  well  known  as  Hon.  Oilman  Marston,  member  of 
Congress  from  New  Hampshire,  and  as  General  Marston,  who  lost  an  arm  early  in 
the  war,  and  now  as  Gov.  Marston  of  one  of  our  new  Territories.  He  taught  in 
the  frame  building  erected  on  Circle  street,  on  the  lot  next  to  that  where  Beecher's 


3g  HOLLOW  ATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

church,  now  the  High  School,  was  built.  In  October,  1838,  the  seminary  fell  into 
the  hands  of  Kev.  James  Sprigg  Kemper,  destined  to  make  it  memorable  as  the 
best  school  the  city  had  ever  had  then,  or  has  had  since,  till  the  public  schools 
were  established.  He  was  fresh  from  the  Cincinnati  College,  a  thorough  scholar, 
and  possessed  of  the  requisite  tact  to  manage  boys  and  make  them  study.  Mere 
than  one  prominent  man  now  living  here  owes  the  spirit  that  pushed  him  ahead  to 
Mr.  Kemper.  He  left  the  school  in  1843  or  1844,  and  studied  for  the  ministry 
(Presbyterian),  and  has  been  for  many  years  pastor  of  a  church  in  Dayton,  Ohio. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Kev.  J.  P.  Safford,  in  1843,  who  gave  place  to  B.  L.  Lang  in 
1844.  He  retained  it  about  two  years,  and  after  he  retired  the  building  was  often 
unoccupied  for  the  next  four  or  five  years,  when  it  was  made  the  City  High  School. 
It  was  used  for  that  purpose  from  1853  to  1859,  and  was  torn  down  in  1860. 

Authority  was  given  in  1837  to  lease  the  north  west  corner  for  twenty  years  to 
the  Lutheran  church,  but  the  site  was  not  deemed  eligible,  and  the  church  was 
built  on  Ohio  street,  just  east  of  where  Mr.  Pyle's  boarding  house  stands  now. 
Another  abortive  lease  was  made  of  the  same  corner  for  a  Female  Seminary  in 
1838.  In  1850  the  Governor  and  State  Officers  were  authorized  to  sell  an  acre  of 
the  block  to  Indiana  Asbury  University,  for  the  medical  department  of  that  institu- 
tion, but  the  appraisement,  $3,566,  was  deemed  too  high,  and  the  sale  was  not  made. 
The  west  half  of  the  square  north  of  the  school  house  was  reserved,  or  used,  as  the 
play  ground  of  the  pupils.  The  east  half  was  for  a  long  time  a  clover  field  or 
cow  pasture.  Subsequently  a  lumber  yard  was  established  upon  the  south  end.  In 
1850  Mr.  J,  B.  Perrine  built  a  very  high  fence  round  the  eastern  half  of  the  square, 
and  with  the  addition  of  seats  and  a  shed  roof,  made  a  grand  show  place  of  it  for 
balloon  ascensions  and  fire  works.  The  finest  exhibition  of  fire  works  ever  given  * 
in  the  city  was  made  there  on  the  4th  of  July,  1860.  Subsequently  the  square  was 
cleared  and  used  as  the  drill  ground  of  the  19th  Regular  U.  S.  Infantry,  and  in  1863 
as  the  parade  ground  of  the  Home  Guards,  who  were  assembled  to  do  battle  with 
the  redoubted  John  Morgan.  As  before  stated,  it  is  now,  by  authority,  handsomely 
railed,  planted  with  trees,  and  made  a  park,  and  such  it  is  likely  to  remain. 

The  town,  as  heretofore  stated,  received  an  impetus  from  the  acquisition  of  the 
capital  in  1825,  but  a  slighter  one  than  might,  have  been  anticipated.  Its  growth 
had  been  but  little  more  rapid  than  that  of  any  other  county  town,  and  it  was  des- 
tined to  expect  as  much,  and  be  as  grievously  disappointed,  in  the  location  of  the 
National  (or  Cumberland)  Koad,  made  in  July,  1827,  as  in  the  possession  of  the 
capital.  The  year  1827  was  the  high-water  mark  of  speculative  growth,  and  what 
that  was  may  be  judged  from  an  estimate,  or  rather  inventory,  of  the  town,  made 
in  February,  1827.  The  JOURNAL  of  that  date  stated  that  they  then  had  a  Court 
house  (also  State  house) ;  a  Presbyterian  church,  with  thirty  members ;  a  Baptist 
church,  with  thirty-six  members,  using  a  cabin  as  a  church  building ;  a  Methodist 
church,  with  ninety-three  members,  just  putting  up  a  new  brick  building;  a  Sab. 
bath-school,  five  years  old,  (the  Union),  with  twenty  teachers,  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  scholars.  There  were  .twenty-five  brick  houses,  sixty  frame  and  eighty  log 
houses,  hewed  and  rough,  in  the  town ;  the  Governor's  house  was  going  up ;  six 
two-story  and  five  one-story  brick  houses,  with  a  number  of  frame  houses,  had  been 
built  within  a  year;  manufacturing  establishments  were  needed.  The  town  had 
received  and  consumed  $10,000  worth  of  goods  in  the  past  year,  embr  icing  seventy- 
six  kegs  of  tobacco,  two  hundred  barrels  of  flour,  one  hundred  kegs  of  powder,  four 
thousand  five  hundred  pounds  of  spun  yarn,  and  two  hundred  and  thirteen  barrels  of 
whisky,  to  which  was  to  be  added  seventy-nine  barrels  made  here.  One  hundred  kegs 


THE  TOWN  IN  1827.  37 

of  powder  is  such  a  proportion  as  shows  that  the  people  still  largely  depended  on 
the  rifle  for  their  meat,  while  two  hundred  and  eighty-four  barrels  of  whisky  shows 
that  they  did  not  largely  depend  on  milk  or  water  for  their  drink.  A  census  taken  in 
November  gave  a  result  of  four  hundred  and  twenty-nine  white  males,  and  thirty- 
four  colored  males,  a  total  male  population  of  five  hundred  and  sixty  three;  and 
four  hundred  and  seventy-nine  white  females,  and  twenty  four  colored  females,  a 
total  female  population  of  five  hundred  and  three,  and  a  total  of  both  sexes  of  one 
thousand  and  sixty-six.  This  is  a  fair  showing  for  a  town  only  seven  years  old,  but 
not  by  any  means  promising  of  great  future  results.  The  streets  were  mainly  cleared 
on  the  plat,  but  there  was  no  clearing  on  the  donation  outside,  and  many  lots  still 
retained  through  necessity  the  large  trees  that  the  owners  would  be  glad  to  pay  to  get 
replaced  now.  Hunting  was  good  all  around  the  town,  as  proved  by  the  sale  of 
powder,  and  there  were  no  marks  of  town  life  off  "Washington  street.  The  streets 
were  muddy,  but  as  Mr.  Brown  justly  remarks,  the  drainage  was  better  than  the 
engineers  have  since  made  it. 


•rl 


Y    SCHOOL    CELEBRATIONS — METHODIST    SUN 


SCHOOL — ARRIVAL    OF    THE 
THE    RIVER — INDIANA    DEMO- 


HOUSE — SMALL     POX — BLACK 


CBAT — CHARTER     OF^*AILROADS— NEW     STAT 

HAWK  WAR,  AND  THE  "  BLOOWCJPHREE  HUOTJRED  " — FIRST  MUNICIPAL  GOV- 
ERNMENT AND  MARKET  HOUSE — F^RSV^M/RDEK— CHOLERA — METEORIC  DIS- 
PLAY. 

[HE  year  1828  was  marked  by  no  striking  local  event,  except  the  establish- 
ment, in  July,  of  a  stage  route  to  Madison  by  a  Mr.  Johnson.  About  the 
same  time  the  Indianapolis  Library  Association  was  formed,  upon  the  very 
easy  plan,  where  the  members  are  liberal  and  able,  of  having  all  the  books  donated 
by  the  members.  It  was  kept  up  for  several  years,  and  when  it  died  its  books  re- 
mained uncared  for  and  unclaimed — in  fact  few  of  them  were  Worth  claiming — till 
about  the  year  1845,  when  the  remains  of  them  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Union 
Literary  Society,  the  precursor  of  all  the  Literary  and  Lecture  Associations  we 
have  had.  When  it  died  the  books  were  scattered  among  the  members.  And  thus 
disappeared  the  remains  of  the  Indianapolis  Library  Association  of  1825.  A  cav- 
alry company  was  organized  by  Captain  David  Buchanan,  in  August.  A  musical 
association  called  the  Handelian  Society,  was  also  formed,  and  furnished  the  sing- 
ing at  the  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July,  which  was  maintained  in  those  early 
days  with  a  zeal  in  singular  contrast  with  the  observance  or  rather  indifference  to 
it  now.  The  review  of  tBBnMft-prjncipally  interesting  now  from  the  names  of  the 
men  whose  prominence  gave  them.a  place  in  them.  In  that  of  1828,  Hiram  Brown 
was  President,  Henry  Brenton  lj^  President,  -Rev.  George  Bush,  since  so  widely 
known  for  oriental  scholarshto  ana  theological  vagaries,  was  Chaplain,  Andrew 
Ingram  reader,  and  Bethuel  r.  Morrijr  opsmfr.  The  Sunday  Schools  took  part  in 
this  celebration  for  the  first  time,  thoiJgn  stAsequently,  and  till  near  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war,  they  constitu/ed  the^ain  part,  if  not  the  whole,  of  the  affair.  A 
rifle  and  artillery  company  /Iso  tooK  part,  and  ate  their  customary  dinner  in  Bates' 
Grove  in  East  street,  above/Market,  whil/the  school  children  marched  back  to  the 
churches  and  were  sent  hone.  In  1829/the  year  following,  the  children  took  the 
"show"'  out  of  the  olden  hands  entirety,  forming  a  procession  of  two  town  and 
five  country  schools  on  the  circle,  anfl  marching,  under  the  direction  of  James 
Blake,  who,  for  thirty  A^ears  afterwards  held  the  same  conspicuous  position,  to 
Bates'  Grove,  hearing  s/prayer  from  Rev.  Jamison  Hawkins,  reading  the  Declara- 
tion from  Ebenezer  Soarpe,  and  a  speech  from  James  Morrison,  and  getting  the 
long  stereotyped  feasf4if  rusk  and  wfter. 

At  the  August  electioiKof  1828,  mine  hundred  and  thirteen  votes  were  cast  in 
the  county,  and  in  tfie  followm^JToyember  election  nine  hundred  and  sixty-one 
were  given,  of  whic$  Adams  got  fiJ^ehundred  and  eighty-two,  and  Jackson  three 


ARRIVAL  OF  THE  FIRST  STEAMER,  "  ROBERT  HANNA."  gg 

hundred  and  seventy-nine  Very  much  of  the  original  plat  of  the  town,  twenty- 
eight  blocks  and  seventy-two  lots,  remained  unsold  in  the  winter  of  1828.  But 
little  of  the  donation  outside  had  been  sold.  A  severe  winter,  with  an  unusually 
heavy  snow,  ushered  in  the  year  1829. 

During  the  year,  as  has  been  briefly  noted  before,  the  Methodist  Sunday  School 
was  organized  and  separated  from  the  Union  School.  It  began  April  24th,  with 
eleven  teachers  and  forty-six  scholars,  and  at  the  close  of  the  year  it  had  twenty- 
seven  teachers  and  one  hundred  and  forty-six  scholars.  The  Indiana  Colonization 
Society  was  organized  in  the  fall,  with  Judge  Isaac  Blackford  as  President.  This, 
except  the  churches  and  Sunday  schools,  was  the  only  association  of  that  day  that 
survived  till  ours.  It  seems  to  have  been  endowed  with  a  vitality  proportioned  to 
its  uselessness,  for  a  more  thoroughly  useless  affair  was  never  known.  The  Legisla- 
ture, by  the  exertions  of  a  trifling  little  minister,  Mr.  Mitchell,  was  induced  to  ap- 
propriate $5,000  a  year  to  the  thing,  and  if  any  of  it  went  for  anything  else  than 
Mr.  Mitchell's  salary  as  secretary,  it  did  not  go  to  the  colonization  of  negroes,  for 
in  twenty  years  the  society  sent  to  Africa  from  Indiana  but  one  solitary  negro. 

There  was  a  great  deal  of  sickness  and  very  little  growth  in  the  town  in  this 
year,  1829,  and  there  was  a  vast  deal  of  emigration  passing  through  on  its  way  to 
Illinois  and  Missouri.  In  the  fall  many  of  the  contracts  on  the  National  Road 
were  let.  That  for  the  bridge,  still  standing  and  still  serviceable,  was  given,  in 
1830,  to  William  H.  Wernwag  and  Walter  Blake,  for  $18,000,  and  it  was  completed 
in  1834.  The  work  on  the  road  was  fitfully  prosecuted  for  nearly  ten  years,  and 
then  was  abandoned,  at  the  same  time  the  State's  Internal  Improvement  system 
failed,  in  1839.  But  one  of  these  contracts  was  the  direct  cause  of  an  event  that 
startled  the  town  and  excited  more  enthusiasm  and  more  reasonable  hope  than  the 
arrival  of  the  capital.  This  was  the  arrival  of  the  steamer  "Robert  Hanna"  in 
April,  1831. 

General  Hanna  and  others  bad  taken  a  contract  on  the  National  Road,  and  to 
facilitate  the  transportation  of  stone  and  timber  necessary  to  the  work,  resolved  to 
have  a  steamer  brought  up  the  river  to  tow  barges  and  do  other  like  service.  The 
result  was  the  arrival,  April  llth,  1831,  of  the  "Robert  Hanna,"  a  small  steamer, 
but  too  big  for  our  river,  as  it  soon  appeared,  for  during  an  excursion,  on  the  1 2th, 
with  a  crowd  of  delighted  passengers,  the  limbs  of  the  overhanging  trees  knocked 
downher  chimneys  and  pilot  house  and  smashed  a  wheel-house,  and  when  she  started 
on  her  down  vojage,  on  the  next  day,  13th  of  April,  she  ran  aground  at  Hog  Island, 
where  she  lay  six  weeks,  and  did  not  get  out  of  the  inadequate  stream  till  fall. 
But  as  the  people  did  not  foresee  all  this,  chiefly  because  they  did  not  think  of  the 
water  being  considerably  lower  in  the  summer  than  the  spring,  they  received  the 
"  Hanna"  and  a  barge  she  was  towing,  with  every  demonstration  of  joy.  Captain 
Blythe's  artillery  company  greeted  her  with  a  noisy  salute,  which  the  crowd 
equalled  with  their  shouting.  All  along  the  river,  as  she  came  up,  the  noise  of  her 
"scape  pipe"  drew  spectators  from  both  sides  for  two  or  three  miles  inland.  She 
excited  confident  hopes  of  a  commercial  prosperity  that  had  never  been  cherished 
before  or  had  been  given  up.  She  confirmed  for  the  time  all  that  Mr.  Engineer 
Ralston  had  asserted  of  the  navigable  capacity  of  the  river.  Even  the  most  mod- 
erate anticipated  that  for  half  the  year  light  draught  boats  could  run,  and  that 
was  but  little  less  than  is  done  on  the  Ohio,  eCHjL  a  good  deal  more  than  is  done  on 
the  Wabash.  A  public  meeting  was  called,  oveX^hich  Judge  Blackford  presided, 
and  of  which  James  Morrison  was  Secretary,  urging  the  improvement  of  the  river, 
and  inviting  the  owners  and  oificers  of  the  boat  to  dinner.  This  finished  naviga- 


40  HOLLOW ATB  INDIANAPOLIS. 

tion  on  "White  river  till  the  construction  of  the  "  Gov.  Morton"  in  1865,  and  the 
navigation  of  White  river  finished  her  after  a  few  ineffectual  attempts  to  run  up 
to  Cold  Spring,  and  one  to  run  down  to  Waverly.  Nobody  expected  much  of  her 
before  they  saw  her  first  trip,  and  after  that  they  expected  nothing  but  her  entire 
loss  to  her  owners,  unless  she  could  be  converted  to  the  ignoble  use  of  scraping  up 
and  carrying  boulders  for  paving  the  streets. 

But  though  the  navigation  of  the  river  ended  thus  indifferently,  the  arrival  of 
the  "  Hanna  "  in  1831  was,  as  already  said,  but  a  confirmation  of  one  opinion  that 
many  had  long  entertained.  So  confident  was  Gov.  Noble  of  the  navigability,  or 
capacity  to  be  made  navigable,  of  the  river,  that  in  1829  he  offered  a  reward  of 
$200  to  the  first  steamer  that  should  reach  the  town.  In  the  spring  of  1830  two 
steamers  got  pretty  well  up,  the  "  Traveler,"  Captain  Saunders,  reaching  Spencer, 
and  the  "  Victory  "  reaching  within  fifty-five  miles.  As  has  been  heretofore  noticed, 
keel  boats  had  several  times  got  safely  up  and  away.  In  1822  the  "  Eagle  "  came 
up  with  fifteen  tons  of  salt  and  whisky  from  Kanawha,  the  "Boxer"  with  thirty- 
three  tons  of  goods  from  Zanesville,  and  the  "  Dandy,"  in  1824,  arrived  with 
twenty-eight  tons  of  salt  and  whisky.  In  1825  the  Legislature  appointed  Alex- 
ander Ralston,  the  Scotch  surveyor,  who  had  done  most  of  the  work  of  planning 
the  plat  and  laying  out  the  town,  Commissioner  to  survey  the  river,  and  report 
the  practicability  and  cost  of  keeping  it  in  navigable  condition.  He  reported 
that  from  Sample's  Mills,  in  Randolph  county,  to  the  Wabash,  four  hundred  and 
fifty-five  miles — one  hundred  and  thirty  to  this  place,  from  hereto  the  fork  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty-five  miles,  and  from  the  fork  to  the  Wabash  forty  miles — could  be 
kept  navigable  for  small  boats,  three  months  in  the  year,  at  a  cost  of  $1,500. 
Backed  by  this  report  the  Legislature  memoralized  Congress  for  the  improvement 
of  the  river,  and  made  appropriations  to  be  expended  under  tne  direction  of  the 
authorities  of  the  counties  along  its  course.  Some  years  later,  one  John  Matthews 
proposed  a  system  of  slack  water  navigation,  including  dams,  locks,  levees,  and  the 
necessary  means,  and  urged  arguments  enough  for  his  project  if  the  feasibility  of 
it  were  left  out  of  view.  But  while  it  was  easy  to  prove  that  the  navigation  of 
the  river  would  be  a  good  thing,  it  was  hard  to  prove  that  the  navigation  would  be 
an  easy  thing.  But  he  pressed  his  suggestions  constantly,  and  in  1851  the  Legisla- 
ture chartered  the  White  River  Navigation  Company.  The  company  ha?  done  noth- 
ing, simply  because  no  power  less  than  Omnipotence  can  do  anything  with  so  un- 
promising a  case  as  White  river.  It  falls  annually  lower  and  lower.  It  has  but 
few  reaches  of  deep  water,  and  very  many  of  very  rapid  ripples,  up  which  it  would 
be  no  little  job  to  tow  a  skiff,  and  an  impossible  job  to  row  a  skiff.  These  are 
worse  every  way,  shallower,  swifter,  more  impassable,  than  they  were  ten  years 
ago.  It  is.  very  doubtful  if  there  is  much  more  than  half  the  water  in  the  stream 
now  that  there  was  in  1840.  The  reasons  heed  not  be  discussed  here,  but  the 
fact  is  palpable  to  those  familiar  with  the  current  and  condition  of  the  river.  Its 
navigation  never  was  practicable,  except  on  so  small  a  scale  as  to  leave  little 
chance  of  benefit,  and  now  it  is  utterly  impracticable  on  any  scale  at  all. 

The  year  1830,  like  that  before  it,  was  uneventful.  The  town  was  stationary' 
and  beyond  trivial  local  incidents,  there  is  little  to  notice.  The  usual  Legislative 
session  was  held,  with  less  than  its  usual  attendance  of  hangers  on,  for  a  winter  of 
great  severity  made  traveling,  always  uncomfortable,  a  serious  evil;  and  some  com- 
pensation for  customary  excitements  was  sought  in  a  legislative  celebration  of  the 
8th  of  January.  A.  F.  Morrison,  subsequently  so  long  and  well  known  in  the  pol- 
itics of  the  State,  delivered  an  address  on  the  occasion.  A  theological  debate  fol 


THE  FIRST  "  SHOW"—  CHARTER  OF  RAILROADS.  ^ 

lowed  a  week  or  so  afterwards,  between  Rev.  Jonathan  Kidwell,  a  Universalist, 
and  Rev.  Edwin  Ray,  a  Methodist,  with  the  usual  result  of  convincing  nobody  of 
anything  he  didn't  believe  before  No  theological  debate  since  Luther  ever  did. 
The  Indiana  Democrat  was  established  in  the  spring  by  A.  F.  Morrison,  and  took 
the  place  of  the  Gazette,  which  was  discontinued  after  eight  years  of  the  languid 
life  of  a  country  paper  in  a  new  town  and  a  poor  country.  This  paper,  in  1841, 
was  superseded  by  the  Indiana  Sentinel.  A  history  of  the  changes  in  both  will  be 
found  in  the  detailed  notice  of  the  newspapers  of  the  city.  The  Fourth  of  July, 
the  great  event  of  the  year,  was  this  year  made  the  source  of  dissension,  that  came 
near  ending  fatally.  The  Sunday  Schools  were  celebrating,  and  so  were  the  citi- 
zens, the  former  under  James  Blake,  the  latter  under  Demas  McFarland,  and  each 
leader  attempted  to  enlarge  his  own  crowd  at  the  expense  of  the  other,  by  speeches 
at  opposite  street  corners.  The  result  might  have  been  a  fight,  if  a  fortunate  rain 
had  not  separated  the  crowds,  forcing  the  schools  into  the'  Methodist  church  to 
complete  their  celebration,  and  sending  the  citizens  to  a  neighboring  grove  to  com- 
plete theirs.  They  did  it  by  a  speech  from  Judge  W.  W.  Wick,  and  reading  by 
A.  St.  Glair,  under  the  presidency  of  Judge  Isaac  Blackford,  and  with  the  usual 
dinner  and  drinking.  They  attempted  to  enhance  the  divided  interest  of  the  oc- 
casion by  firing  a  salute  from  the  cannon,  but  the  artillery  company  was  Captain 
Blake's,  and  be  was  "in  the  opposite"  in  this  case,  and  the  gun  had  to  be  handled 
by  raw  hands,  one  of  whicb,  belonging  to  Andrew  Smith,  long  county  jailor,  was 
blown  off  in  the  third  round.  The  year  was  further  distinguished  by  the  arrival 
of  the  first  "  show,"  McComber  &  Co.'s  menagerie,  which  was  exhibited  at  Hen- 
derson's tavern,  July  26-27th,  and  was  followed  a  month  afterwards  by  another. 
The  Indiana  Historical  Society  was  organized  in  December,  with  Benjamin  Parke 
for  President  and  B.  F.  Morris  for  Secretary.  This  association  "spread  itself'  in 
a  fashion  that  promised  to  make  it  permanent  and  of  constantly  increasing  value. 
It  elected  Daniel  Webster,  Henry  Clay,  Lewis  Cass,  John  Calhoun,  and  pretty 
much  all  the  political  notorieties  of  that  day  honorary  members,  and  received  neat 
little  autographic  acknowledgments  of  the  honor,  which  were  a  long  time  in  the 
ofBce  of  Henry  P.  Coburn,  the  last  secretary.  John  Farnham  gave  the  society  its 
most  vigorous  life  and  power  while  it  lasted,  and  enabled  it  to  make  some  important 
collections  of  documents  and  other  material  of  the  history  of  the  State  and  the 
Northwest.  A  gift  enterprise  by  T.  A.  Langdon,  who  offered  the  Indianapolis  Ho- 
tel as  the  highest  prize,  closed  the  year,  which  was  exceedingly  cold,  a  state  of  the 
weather  that  continued  the  whole  winter,  and  in  February  covered  the  ground 
with  more  than  a  foot  of  snow,  and  brought  the  thermometer  down  to  18°  below 
zero. 

The  year  1831  was  marked  by  several  events  of  no  little  importance  in  them- 
selves, but  promising  far  more  in  their  consequences.  On  the  2nd  and  3rd  of  Feb- 
ruary the  Legislature  chartered  companies,  recently  formed,  for  the  construction 
of  no  less  than  six  railroads,  to  center  at  Indianapolis.  They  were  the  first  active 
manifestations  of  the  spirit  of  enterprise  engendered  by  the  then  recent  introduc- 
tion of  railways,  exhibited  in  the  State,  and  led  the  way  for  that  wholesale  system 
of  internal  improvements  four  years  later,  which,  promising  such  ample  benefits,  at 
first  loaded  the  State  with  such  unmitigated  evils.  They  were  immature  as  well  as 
premature.  No  adequate  means  had  been  provided,  or  even  forseen,  for  their  con- 
struction, and  in  the  condition  of  the  country  at  that  time,  there  would  have  been 
no  profitable  use  for  them  all.  Twenty  years  later,  with  ten  times  the  population,  the 
country  was  unable  to  maintain  even  a  smaller  number  of  centralized  railroads,  and 


42 


HOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 


if  these  could  have  been  built,  there  is  no  doubt  they  would  have  been  disastrous 
failures  for  a  time  long  enough  to  have  rusted  the  rails  off.  But  new  settlers  and 
settlements  are  enthusiastic,  confident  and  uncalculating,  and  they  took  little 
heed  of  any  consideration  but  that  a  railroad  to  every  point  of  the  compass  from 
the  capital  would  do  a  vast  deal  of  good.  The  necessary  condition — "  if  it  can  be 
made  to  pay  and  kept  up  " — was  not  thought  of.  So  charters  were  granted  for 
the  Madison  &  Indianapolis,  Lawrenceburg  &  Indianapolis,  Harrison  &  Indianap- 
olis, New  Albany,  Salem  &  Indianapolis,  and  Ohio  &  Indianapolis  railroads.  The 
•wild  character  of  these  enterprises  can  be  seen  from  the  proposition  to  make  rail- 
roads from  New  Albany  and  Harrison  (Corydon)  to  Indianapolis,  two  lines  that 
would  start  but  a  few  miles  apart,  and  inevitably  "cut  each  others'  throats."  Sur- 
veys were  made  on  four  of  them,  the  Madison,  Lawrenceburg,  Jeffersonville  and  La- 
fayette, but  nothing  more  done,  and  their  obvious  impossibility  caused  them  to  he 
given  up.  But  the  growing  favor  of  internal  improvements  impelled  a  new  effort 
on  a  larger  scale,  and  later  they  were  re-chartered  and  some  work  done  upon  them. 
But  in  1836  the  State  took  several  of  them  into  her  own  hands,  together  with  the 
combined  canals  and  turnpikes  of  the  great  system,  and  carried  them  on  till  she 
broke  down  under  the  load. 

On  the  10th  of  February  it  was  resolved  to  build  a  State  House,  on  the  report 
of  a  committee  at  the  preceding  session.  The  unsold  lots  of  the  donation,  it  was 
supposed,  would  furnish  $58,000,  and  the  house,  it  was  estimated,  would  cost  $56,- 
000,  and  as  a  proof  that  the  wild  calculations  of  the  railroad  mania  did  not  affect 
Other  business,  it  is  to  be  noted  that  the  house  actually  did  cost  but  $60,000,  a  very 
little  advance  upon  the  estimate  for  a  public  work  of  any  kind.  James  Blake  was 
appointed  commissioner  to  supervise  the  work,  obtain  plans  and  materials,  and 
prepare  generally  for  active  operations,  with  an  appropriation  of  $3,000  for  these 
preliminaries.  The  plan  (for  which  he  was  authorized  to  offer  $150)  was  to  include 
a  senate  chamber  for  fifty  members,  a  hall  for  one  hundred  representatives,  rooms 
for  the  Supreme  Court  and  the  State  library,  with  twelve  committee  rooms  and  the 
necessary  appurtenances,  at  a  cost  of  $45,000.  The  commissioner  did  his  work, 
and  obtained  a  plan  from  Ithiel  Town  and  I.  J.  Davis,  of  New  York,  which  when 
reported  to  the  Legislature  of  1832  was  approved,  and  Gov.  Noah  Noble,  Morris 
Morris  and  Samuel  Merrill,  appointed  to  superintend  the  construction.  The  build- 
ing was  to  be  finished  by  November,  1838,  and  received  upon  the  examination  and 
approval  of  a  committee  of  five  from  each  house.  These  commissioners  contracted 
with  Ithiel  Town,  the  architect,  for  the  work  at  $58,000.  He  began  early  in  1832, 
and  finished  in  December  of  1835,  in  time  for  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature.  The 
work  was  well  done,  but  of  bad  material  in  the  foundation.  It  was  blue  Bluff 
stone,  far  less  durable  than  brick,  but  easily  obtained  and  easily  worked.  It  was 
slaty,  and  showed  its  disposition  to  scale  in  a  few  years  after  it  was  put  into  the 
building.  It  has  now  decayed  so  greatly  as  to  disfigure,  if  not  endanger,  portions 
of  the  walls.  The  style  of  the  building  is  Grecian,  following  the  Parthenon,  ex- 
cept in  the  preposterous  little  dome.  If  that  had  been  left  off  it  would  have  been 
handsome  and  tasteful,  though  the  Grecian  style  is  not  fitted  for  a  level  country 
Its  heavy  architrave,  low  roof,  square  form,  and  lack  of  elevatioa,  make  it  look 
squatty  in  a  plain.  It  is  intended  for  hilly  and  broken  countries,  where,  capping 
natural  elevations,  it  will  harmonize  with  the  scenery,  which  high  and  peaked 
buildings  would  not.  Like  all  productions  of  real  genius,  it  is  adapted  to  its  cir- 
cumstances, and  shows  to  less  advantage  anywhere  else.  This  would  have  been  a 
grave  but  not  insuperable  objection  to  the  style  of  the  State  House.  But  the  in 


SEW  STATE  HOUSE— BLACK  HAWK  WAR.  £g 

congruous,  contemptible  dome  should  have  condemned  it  utterly.  It  don't  belong 
to  the  Grecian  style,  it  is  Roman.  The  Greeks  knew  nothing  of  domes  or  arches. 
And  it  looks  just  as  well  with  the  columns,  pilasters,  deep  architrave  and  inclined 
roof  of-  a  Grecian  structure,  as  a  duck-billed  cap  on  a  Quaker  coat.  1  he  stucco, 
too,  was  a  bad  suggestion.  No  plaster  work  will  last  in  the  extreme  vicissitudes  of 
our  climate.  It  is  wet  one  day,  frozen  the  next,  thawed  the  next,  and  rotting  off 
in  a  few  years.  So  the  building  soon  looked  ragged  and  old.  Now  it  looks  dis- 
gusting. But  it  was  thought  a  fine  thing  thirty-five  years  ago.  It  cost  $60,000, 
but  $2,000  more  than  the  contract.  It  is  200  feet  long  and  100  wide,  or  about  these 
figures.  No  doubt  it  will  be  soon  replaced.  It  is  in  constant  need  of  repairs.  In 
December,  1867,  the  vaulted  ceiling  of  the  Representatives'  hall  fell,  and  if  there 
had  been  anybody  in  the  "bar"  it  would  inevitably  have  killed  them.  It  made  a 
work  that  cost  several  thousand  dollars  to  repair  completely.  'In  1834  a  plowing- 
match  began  the  work  of  throwing  dirt  from  the  outer  side  of  the  square  to  the 
center,  and  this,  with  a  good  deal  of  foreign  addition,  made  the  elevation  on  which 
the  State  House  stands.  The  ground  was  raised  about  nine  feet,  and  the  trees,  the 
larger  ones  now  growing,  planted  the  year  following. 

About  the  same  time  that  the  construction  of  the  State  House  was  decided,  the 
Agent  of  the  State  was  ordered  to  divide  the  donation  outside  of  the  town  plat  into 
out  lots  and  sell  them  in  the  May  following.  The  subdivision  included  about  nine- 
teen hundred  acres,  offered  for  sale  in  lots  of  two  to  fifty  acres,  at  the  minimum 
price  of  ten  dollars  an  acre.  A  portion  only  was  sold.  As  if  to  concentrate  into 
the  month  of  February  all  the  startling  events  possible,  Samuel  Henderson,  the 
Postmaster  since  the  establishment  of  the  office  in  1822,  was  removed  to  make  room 
for  John  Cain.  And  Mr.  M.  G.  Rogers,  Ihe  first  artist,  a  portrait  painter,  visited  the 
capital.  The  steamer  "  Robert  Hanna,"  arrived  on  the  llth  of  April,  producing,  in 
conjunction  with  the  newly  awakened  spirit  of  railroad  enterprise,  an  extraordi- 
nary excitement,  and  great  hopes  of  a  commercial  importance  destined  to  be  real- 
alized  only  in  the  next  generation.  A  case  of  small  pox,  in  May,  created  an 
excitement  of  a  less  pleasant  kind.  A  public  meeting  was  called  to  consider  the 
case  of  Sophia  Overall,  a  colored  victim  of  the  dreadful  malady,  and  Dr.  S.  G. 
Mitchell,  Isaac  Coe,  L.  Dunlap,  John  E.  McClure,  C.  McDougal,  John  S.  Mothers- 
head,  Win.  Tichnor  and  John  H.  Sanders,  were  appointed  a  Board  of  Health,  to 
see  that  the  disease  did  not  become  epidemic.  But  the  case,  if  it  was  small  pox, 
was  deterred  by  these  formidable  preparations  for  resistance  from  spreading,  and 
the  matter  ended.  The  first  soda  fountain  was  put  up  by  Dunlap  &  McDougal » 
the  first  elephant  was  exhibited,  and  the  first  three-story  brick  house,  near  the  cor- 
ner of  Meridian  street,  on  the  north  side  of  "Washington,  was  erected  during  the 
summer.  The  August  election  brought  out  950  votes.  The  first  Methodist  Confer- 
ence was  held  in  October,  and  ttie  Indianapolis  Lyceum,  for  the  delivery  of  scien- 
tific lectures  and  d-ebates,  was  organized  about  the  same  time. 

The  spring  of  1832  brought  with  it  nothing  important.  But  in  June  came 
news  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  the  then  celebrated  but  now  forgotten  "  Bloody 
Three  Hundred,"  who  deserve  a  place  beside  Tennyson's  "Six  Hundred,"  organized 
to  represent  Indiana  in  the  fatal  fields  of  that  last  of  the  Indian  wars  east  of  the 
Mississippi.  One  hundred  and  fifty  mounted  men  of  the  fortieth  regiment  of  mili- 
tia, and  as  many  from  the  regiment  in  the  adjoining  counties,  were  called  for  by 
Col.  Alexander  W.  Russell,  and  rendezvoused  in  the  grove  on  Washington  street* 
where  John  Carlisle's  residence  now  stands,  then  part  of  t'he  military  ground. 
They  came  with  the  regular  equipments  of  Indian  fighters,  backwoods  rifles,  torn- 


44  HOLLOWArS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

ahswks,  knives,  a  pound  of  powder  in  each  man's  horn,  and  a  buckskin  "shot- 
pouch,"  with  an  adequate  quantity  of  bullets.  They  were  organized  into  three 
companies  under  Captains  J.  P.  Drake,  J.  W.  Redding,  and  Henry  Brenton.  Col. 
John  L.  Kinnard  was  one  of  the  party.  Col.  K.  was  subsequently  elected  to  Con- 
gress over  W.  W.  Wick,  and  was  blown  up  in  a  racing  explosion  on  the  Ohio,  on 
his  way  to  his  second  session  of  Congress,  and  scalded  to  death.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  popular  and  decidedly  the  most  promising  young  man  of  his  day  in  the 
State.  He  began  as  a  school  teacher.  The  morning  before  the  march  to  Chicago 
the  grove  was  full  of  boys  throwing  tomahawks,  and  soldiers  preparing  arms  and 
knapsacks.  The  street  (for  there  was  but  one)  was  full  of  crying  women  and 
wondering  children,  and  Col.  Russell,  as  he  rode  up  with  a  big  sword  in  a  leather 
scabbard,  was  regarded  as  a  second — not  a  third — Napoleon.  The  "Bloody  Three 
Hundred"  marched  for  Chicago,  but  never  got  any  further.  They  met  no  adven- 
tures, and  did  no  duty  except  marching,  and  came  home  ag'ain  covered  with  dust 
if  not  glory.  It  was  told  of  them,  at  the  time,  that  one  of  them,  who  was  standing 
guard  at  night  up  near  the  Lake,  got  frightened  at  a  cow  and  fired,  raising  an  alarm 
and  bringing  out  the  whole  valorous  host  to  the  perilous  encounter,  but  it  was 
probably  a  calumny.  The  war  was  ended  before  they  "  got  a  smell."  They  got 
back  on  the  3d  of  July,  and  had  a  share  of  the  celebration  and  dinner  the  next 
day,  where  they  were  regarded  as  "  veterans."  They  were  guided — for  there  were 
no  roads  up  north  in  those  days — by  Mr.  W.  Conner,  the  same  whose  early  settlement 
in  the  White  River  region  was  noted  in  the  first  chapter  of  this  history.  He  was 
certainly  capable,  if  any  man  was.  The  troops  were  paid  in  the  January  follow- 
ing, by  Major  Lamed.  Their  departure  was  signalized  by  more  blood  shed  than 
their  campaign.  In  firing  a  salute  from  the  cannon,  William  Warren  had  both  his 
arms  blown  off.  Injuring  its  gunners  seems  to  have  been  about  all  the  service  that 
Captain  Blake's  gun  ever  did. 

In  August  and  September  meetings  were  frequently  held,  under  the  inspiration, 
of  John  Givan  and  Charles  I.  Hand  and  others,  to  build  a  market  house  at  some 
convenient  point,  and  it  was  done  the  year  following — contracted  for  in  May  and 
finished  in  August — on  the  half  square  north  of  the  Court  house.  Josiah  Davis, 
Thomas  McOouat  and  John  Walton  were  charged  with  the  supervision  of  the  work. 
Dr.  L.  Dunlap,  J.  L.  Hall  and  Demas  McFarland  were  appointed  the  first  Trustees 
of  the  County  Seminary  The  first  Foundry  was  started  in  August,  in  Stringtown, 
by  R.  A.  McPherson,  and  continued  in  operation  some  years.  The  cholera  created 
a  good  deal  of  alarm  this  summer,  and  public  meetings  were  held  and  sanitary 
measures  suggested,  but  the  epidemic  passed  us  by. 

On  the  3d  of  September  the  first  steps  were  taken  to  form  a  municipal  govern- 
ment for  the  capital.  Before  that  it  had  been  simply  a  more  densely  populated  sec- 
tion of  the  wilderness,  with  no  cohesion  or  control  more  than  any  other  square 
mile  of  land.  It  was  governed  by  State  laws  and  State  officers.  On  that  day  it 
was  resolved  to  become  an  incorporated  town,  under  the  general  law,  and  an  elec- 
tion was  held  shortly  after  for  the  five  Trustees  provided  by  the  law  for  towns  thus 
organized.  Samuel  Henderson,  late  Post  master,  was  made  President  of  the  Board) 
J.  P.  Griffith  Clerk,  and  Samuel  Jennison,  Marshal  and  Collector.  It  was  an 
exceedingly  loose  organization,  but  it  answered  well  enough  for  a  little  town  of  a 
little  more  than  a  thousand  inhabitants.  Five  wards  were  formed,  divided  by  Ala- 
bama, Pennsylvania,  Meridian  and  Tennessee  streets,  running  the  whole  length  of 
the  plat.  Certain  ordinances  were  adopted,  and  a  certain  portion  of  townly  dignity 
assumed.  A  connected  history  of  the  municipal  government  will  be  given,  with 


VISIT  OF  GENERAL  HARRISON— FIRST  MURDER.  45 

all  Its  appurtenances,  in  another  place,  and  nothing  more  need  be  said  of  it  here. 

Early  in  the  ensuing  year,  1833,  General  Harrison  visited,  for  the  first  time, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  of  which,  in  its  territorial  condition,  he  was  so  long  Gov- 
ernor,  and  in  which  the  greatest  achievements  of  his  honored  career  were  accom- 
plished. He  was  given  a  public  dinner  at  Washington  Hall,  on  the  17th  of  Janu- 
ary, where  he  made  a  speech  touching  the  exciting  political  issues  of  that  day — 
nullification  and  its  accompaniments — and  of  course  for  the  Union.  His  visit,  with 
the  usual  excitement  created  by  the  session  of  the  Legislature,  gave  a  deg'ee  of 
animation  to  social  life  and  public  feeling  certainly  not  equaled  since  the  arrival 
of  the  Hanna  in  1831.  He  came  back  in  1835,  but  never  afterwards. 

There  was  engaged,  at  this  time,  either  on  the  National  Koad  bridge  with  Mr.  Wern- 
wag,  or  on  some  work  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  a  young  man  of  good  appearance 
and  manners  by  the  name  of  William  McPherson.  He  was  accused  by  the  scandal 
of  the  day  of  licentious  habits,  and  of  intrigues  that  did  him  no  credit.  From 
some  cause  he  obtained  the  ill  will  of  Michael  Van  Blaricum,  the  ferryman  at  the 
"Washington  street  ferry.  There  were  many  reports  of  the  origin  of  the  difficulty, 
and  among  others,  one  that  inculpated  McPherson  with  Van  Blaricum's  wife.  On 
the  8th  of  May,  1833,  he  was  crossing  the  ferry  with  the  ferryman,  when  the  latter, 
in  the  middle  of  the  river,  and  in  full  sight  of  several  persons,  purposely  rocked 
the  boat,  upset  it,  and  threw  McPherson,  who  could  not  swim,  out,  and  drowned 
him.  It  was  the  first  murder  that  had  been  committed  in  the  town,  and  it  created  a 
great  deal  of  excitement,  which  was  increased  by  the  difficulty  of  finding  the  body. 
Captain  Blake's  cannon  was  taken  down  to  the  bluff  bank,  where  Merritt  &  Co.ugh- 
lin's  woolen  factory  now  stands,  and  it  was  fired  to  raise  the  corpse,  ineffectually. 
It  was  recovered  the  next  day  after  the  murder.  Van  Blaricum,  who  belonged  to 
the  family  of  one  of  the  very  earliest  settlers,  was  a  bad  man,  but  from  some  cause, 
probably  the  opinion  that  his  "  domestic  peace  "  had  been  damaged,  he  was  sentenced 
to  but  three  years  in  the  penitentiary,  and  had  served  but  half  the  term,  when 
Gov.  Noble  pardoned  him.  He  returned  and  lived  in  the  city,  just  at  the  west  end 
of  the  bridge,  for  several  years  afterwards. 

The  cholera  panic  was  renewed  this  year.  A  case  or  two  supposed  to  be  chol- 
era, with  its  prevalence  elsewhere,  created  so  much  alarm  that  the  26th  of  June 
was  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  and  in  July  a  public  meeting  sub- 
scribed $1,000  to  provide  hospital  conveniences,  appointed  a  committee  often — half 
doctors,  half  citizens — to  act  as  a  Board  of  Health,  and  assigned  minor  committees 
to  each  ward.  Suitable  measures  were  taken;  the  Governor's  Circle  building  was 
taken  for  a  hospital,  and  Dr.  John  E.  McClure  appointed  to  the  charge  of  it.  No 
case  occurred,  and  the  preparations  were,  happily,  lost.  Following  the  cholera 
came  the  first  circus,  in  August  (Brown  &  Bailey's  circus  and  menagerie),  and 
placed  itself  in  the  open  lot  south  of  Henderson  s  hotel,  then  and  for  several  years 
afterwards  the  only  spot  used  for  these  exhibitions.  It  created  a  great  deal  of  talk 
among  the  religious,  who  were  willing  to  see  the  animals,  but  condemned  the  circus 
as  immoral  and  irreligious.  The  feeling  was  almost  universal  then,  and  is  not 
wholly  dead  yet.  The  "show"  did  a  good  business,  as  "shows"  of  all  kinds  almost 
invariably  have  done  from  that  day  to  this. 

The  great  meteoric  shower  of  November  13th  excited  an  alarm,  not  quite  so 
general,  but  in  some  minds  far  moye  intense  than  did  the  cholera.  It  was  deemed 
a  portent  of  some  great  Divine  display  of  wrath,  if  not  the  herald  of  the  Last  Day 
itself.'  It  was  certainly  the  most  awful  exhibition,  to  an  uneducated  mind,  and  the 
most  sublime  to  an  educated  mind,  that  can  be  concieved.  The  sky  rained  fire  aa 
thickly  as  it  ever  did  rain  drops,  apparently,  till  the  rising  day  put  the  lights  out. 


CHARTER  OF  OLD  STATE  BANK — SINKING  FUND — BANK  OF  THE  STATE — RAILROAD 
ENTERPRISE — FIRST  FIRE  COMPANY — FIRST  AGRICULTURAL,  SOCIETY — COUNTY 
FAIR SPECULATIVE  SPIRIT — PROPERTY  RISING — BENEVOLENT  SOCIETY — LIT- 
ERARY SOCIETY — INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENT  SYSTEM — FAILURE— STATE  DEBT 
AND  BANKRUPTCY — PAYMENT  OF  STATE  DEBT — RUIN  OF  PRIVATE  BUSINESS — 

THE     SECOND     MURDER — WASHINGTON     HALL FIRST     INSURANCE     COMPANY — 

CHAIN   GANG — RACING   AND   FIGHTING. 

,  N  the  28th  of  January,  1834,  the  Legislature  chartered  the  State  Bank  of 
Indiana,  with  a  capital  of  $1,600,000,  in  $50  shares,  the  State  taking  half  the 
stock,  and  private  holders  the  remainder.  The  charter  was  to  run  twenty- 
five  years.  The  State  raised  the  money  for  her  interest  by  the  sale  of  what  were 
known  as  "Bank  bonds,"  and  her  share  of  the  dividends,  after  extinguishing  these 
bonds,  it  was  provided  should  go  to  the  establishment  of  a  general  School  Fund. 
A  Board  called  the  Sinking  Fund  Board,  was  constituted  to  manage  this  fund  of 
dividends,  and  was  authorized  to  lend  it,  in  any  desired  amounts,  upon  landed  secu- 
rity, at  seven  per  cent,  interest.  By  this  wise  provision,  poor  borrowers,  settlers 
who  desired  to  buy  land,  and  all  who  wanted  loans  on  long  time,  were  accommoda- 
ted, and  during  the  whole  life  of  the  Bank  the  Sinking  Fund  was  a  most  important 
adjunct.  Its  loans  went  into  every  county  of  the  State,  and  being  amply  secured) 
and  renewable  ad  libitum,  they  made  at  once  an  immense  profit  for  the  ultimate 
school  fund,  and  an  incalculable  benefit  to  the  people.  When  the  magnitude  of  the 
fund  began  to  be  apparent,  on  the  recommendation  of  Gov.  Wright  its  avails  were 
ordered  by  the  Legislature  to  be  invested  in  the  State's  five  per  cent,  bonds,  issued 
in  the  place  of  those  issued  in  1836  for  internal  improvements.  By  this  arrange- 
ment a  double  advantage  was  secured.  The  public  debt  was  extinguished  to  the 
amount  of  the  avails  of  the  school  fund,  and  a  permanent  investment  of  the  fund 
was  made  in  the  credit  of  the  State.  The  foreign  debt  became  a  domestic  debt,  at  a 
low  rate  of  interest,  and  the  taxes  that  would  otherwise  go  abroad  remained  at 
home  to  teach  our  children.  It  was  paying  a  debt  and  levying  a  school  tax  both. 
The  final  yield  of  this  fund  of  the  State's  dividends,  thus  vastly  increased,  was 
$3,700,000,  after  paying  the  "  Bank  bonds." 

Of  the  Bank  itself  the  history  belongs  rather  to  the  State  than  the  city,  but  a 
general  sketch  of  it  will  not  be  out  of  place  here.  The  Legislature  reserved  the 
right  to  elect  the  President  and  half  the  Directors.  The  stockholders  elected  the 
other  half  of  the  Directors.  Samuel  Merrill,  late  State  Treasurer,  was  elected  the 
first  President,  and  Calvin  Fletcher,  Seaton  W.  Norris,  Robert  Morrison  and  Thos. 
R.  Scott  Directors.  The  organization  was  made  on  the  13th  of  February,  begin- 
ning with  ten  branches,  but  ultimately  increasing  them  to  sixteen.  Books  for  stock 
subscriptions  were  opened  on  the  7th  of  April  following,  and  remained  open  thirty 


THE  OLD  STATE  BANK.  Afi 

ctays.  The  stock  was,  of  course,  readily  taken.  James  M.  Eay  was  made  Cashier, 
and  he  held  the  position  till  the  bank  was  "  wound  up." 

The  Bank  and  its  branches  began  business  on  the  20th  day  of  November,  1834. 
The  "  mother  bank,"  as  it  was  called,  was  first  kept  in  the  Governor's  Circle  build- 
ing. It  was  afterwards  removed  to  Washington  street,  and  kept  there  till  1840. 
In  the  meantime  the  Directors  had  been  building  a  very  substantial,  and  by  no  means 
unornamental,  structure  on  the  narrow  peak  between  Illinois  street  and  Kentucky 
avenue,  on  the  site  of  an  old  pottery  establishment,  one  of  the  first  erected  in  the 
city.  In  1840  a  removal  was  made  into  this  building,  and  there  the  bank  remained 
during  the  remainder  of  its  corporate  life.  The  Bank  of  the  State  of  Indiana — a 
sort  of  successor,  or  meant  to  be,  of  the  State  Bank  of  Indiana — next  occupied  the 
building,  and  remained  till  it  collapsed  under  the  National  Bank  act.  The  build- 
ing has  since  been  occupied  as  an  insarance  office  and  head  quarters  of  one  of  the 
political  parties.  The  Indianapolis  Branch  of  the  State  Bank  was  organized  on 
the  llth  of  November,  by  the  appointment  of  Hervey  Bates,  President,  and  B.  F. 
Morris,  flashier.  They  were  succeeded  in  a  few  years  by  Calvin  Fletcher  as  Presi- 
dent, and  Thomas  EL.  Sharpe  as  Cashier,  and  these  very  efficient  officers  remained 
in  the  management  of  the  Bank  till  it  was  wound  up.  Very  few  institutions  of 
any  kind  have  continued  so  long  in  the  same  hands  as  this  bank.  It  was  first  kept 
in  a  building  belonging  to  Mr.  Bates  on  Washington  Street  and  Virginia  avenue, 
but  in  1840  the  building  on  the  corner  of  Pennsylvania  street  and  Virginia  avenue 
was  completed,  and  the  bank  removed  to  that.  When  the  bank  was  wound  up, 
this  building  (which  contained  the  Cashier's  residence  as  well  a?  the  bank),  was 
sold  for  $16,000,  to  the  Sinking  Fund,  which,  though  an  adjunct  of  the  bank  in 
its  origin,  had  an  independent  existence  and  business,  and  many  a  year  to  run 
before  it  could  close  out  its  wide-spread  loans,  and  secure  its  mortgages.  But  in 
1867  the  Fund  had  worked  its  way  through  so  nearly  to  the  end  that  its  business 
was  transferred  by  the  Legislature  to  the  State  Auditor,  the  building  became  unne- 
cessary, and  it  was  sold  to  the  Franklin  Insurance  Company,  for  $30,000. 

No  Bank  ever  organized  in  the  United  Siates  «vas  managed  more  prudently 
or  to  greater  advantage  both  of  the  borrowers  and  of  the  stockholders  than  the 
Stat^-  Bank.  The  Indianapolis  Branch  would  loan  but  $200  to  any  one  person,  except 
when  engaged  in  hog  or  grain  buying,  and  then  it  would  lend  liberally.  Tbis  reso- 
lution caused  a  good  deal  of  complaint  of  "  narrowness"  and  "stinginess,"  but  it 
prevented  wild  speculation,  and  saved  the  Bank  from  many  a  loss.  The  effect 
of  it  was  that  business  men  in  need  of  immediate  accommodation  were  accommodated, 
and  those  whose  annual  traffic  in  stock  was  the  life  of  the  farming  interest,  were 
supplied  as  far  as  a  perfect  knowledge  of  the  trader's  judgment  and  means  indicated 
would  be  safe.  In  1837,  May  18th,  the  State  Bank  suspended  specie  payments,  and 
resumed  again  on  the  order  of  the  Legislature,  June  15th,  1842. 

In  1855,  in  anticipation  of  the  expiration  of  the  charter  of  the  State  Bank,  the 
Legislature,  by  a  close  vote,  and  after  a  vast  deal  of  intriguing  and  management, 
suspected  to  be  not  entirely  free  from  corrupt  elements,  chartered  the  Bank  of  the 
State  of  Indiana,  an  institution  somewhat  like  its  predecessor  in  general  features, 
but  solely  a  stock  holders'  affair.  The  State  had  no  interest  in  it.  Gov.  Wright, 
believing  it  to  be  the  work  of  speculators,  who  had  arranged  to  snatch  all  the  stock 
and  allow  no  fair  competition  for  its  possession,  vetoed  the  bill,  but  it  was  passed 
over  his  head.  When  the  stock  books  were  opened  for  the  seventeen  branches,  there 
was  s'ome  appearance  of  the  "grab  game"  which  the  Governor  apprehended,  and 
at  the  next  session  of  the  Legislature  he  made  a  long  argument  before  the  Senate 


48  HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

to  show  that  fraud  had  been  practiced,  and  that  the  charter  should  be  canceled. 
But  the  Bank  was  too  strong  then  to  be  overturned,  and  lived  till  the  National  Bank 
system  of  Mr.  Chase  killed  it.  Its  branches  were  generally  converted  into  National 
banks.  It  was  organized  on  the  1st  of  November,  1855,  with  Hugh  M'Cullough, 
late  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  as  President — he  was,  also,  President  of  the  State 
Bank  during  the  last  four  years  of  its  existence — and  James  M.  Ray,  also  of  the 
State  Bank,  Cashier.  It  began  business  with  the  beginning  of  the  year  1857,  with 
a  capital  of  $1,836,000,  and  continued  prosperously  till,  as  before  remarked,  the 
National  Bank  system  overwhelmed  it.  In  1865  it  was  authorized  by  the  Legisla- 
ture to  "  wind  up,"  and  did  so  as  soon  after  as  practicable.  It  was  kept  in  the  old 
State  Bank  building  on  Kentucky  avenue,  which  it  bought,  and  subsequently  sold 
to  the  Franklin  Insurance  Company.  Hugh  M'Cullough,  G.  W.  Rathbone  and 
James  M.  Kay  were  Presidents,  and  Mr.  Ray  and  Joseph  M.  Moore  Cashiers.  The 
Branch  in  this  city  was  organized  July  25th,  1855,  with  $100,000,  capital,  afterwards 
doubled,  and  with  W.  H.  Talbout  for  President.  It  began  business  in  1857,  with 
the  "mother"'  bank,  in  the  room. where  Cobb's  drug  store  now  is.  George  Tousey 
was  then  the  President,  and  C.  S.  Stevenson  Cashier.  In  1861  Stevenson  was 
appointed  Paymaster  in  the  army,  and  David  E.  Snyder  was  made  Cashier.  The 
bank  was  shortly  before  removed  to  the  corner  room  of  Yohn's  block,  Washington 
and  Meridian  streets,  where  it  has  since  remained.  D.  M.  Taylor  was  made  Cashier 
in  1866,  and  Oliver  Tousey  President.  As  a  branch  of  the  Bank  of  the  State  it 
was  wound  up  soon  after  this,  and  converted  into  a  National  Bank,  in  which  charac- 
ter it  still  keeps  its  old  place.  A  general  notice  of  Banks  will  be  found  in  another 
place. 

In  the  spring  of  1834  a  railroad  meeting  was  held  here  to  obtain  subscriptions 
to  the  Lawrenceburgh  road,  and  the  practice,  now  so  general,  of  making  county 
subscriptions  by  county  Boards,  to  be  paid  by  taxation,  was  inaugurated.  The 
railroad  fever,  which  reached  its  climax  two  years  afterwards,  was  now  rising  fast. 
As  stated  in  a  preceding  chapter,  lines  had  been  projected  from  Indianapolis,  La- 
fayette and  Madison,  as  well  as  Lawrenceburg  and  other  points,  and  nothing  hav- 
ing been  done  with  most  of  them,  they  were  rechartered  in  this  and  the  following 
year,  and  in  1836  assumed  by  the  State.  Nothing  came  of  the  Lawrenceburgh 
line,  except  a  little  grading  at  one  or  two  points. 

Besides  the  chartering  of  the  State  Bank,  and  of  the  several  railroad  compa- 
nies, the  year  1834  witnessed  the  first  local  organization  of  the  "Whig  party.  The 
first  meeting  was  held  May  17th  in  the  Court  house — which  continued  to  be  the 
common  political  forum  as  long  as  it  lasted — under  Robert  Brenton,  familiarly 
known  in  the  "  unrespective  "  vernacular  of  the  backwoods  as  "Old  Bob  Brenton," 
and  speeches  were  made  by  Hiram  Brown,  a  most  unwavering  Whig  to  the  last 
hour  of  his  life,  and  a  man  of  extraordinary,  though  not  persevering,  talents,  and  by 
Wm.  Quarles,  a  greatly  overrated  criminal  lawyer,  John  H.  Scott  and  John  Hobart, 
the  latter  the  first  native  poet  of  whom  our  city  or  its  vicinity  could  boast.  The 
first  brewery  did  not  grow  out  of  this  "Whig  movement,  as  we  of  the  "lager  beer 
period  "  of  politics  might  easily  conjecture,  but  out  of  the  enterprise  of  John  L. 
Young  and  Wm.  H.  Wernwag,  and  was  got  ready  for  work  during  this  summer 
It  was  located  just  west  of  where  the  canal  was  afterwards  run,  at  the  west  end  of 
Maryland  street.  It  did  not  do  a  very  large  business,  and  Mr.  Young  subsequently 
failed  in  it,  when  it  passed  into  other  hands.  A  few  years  ago  it  was  abandoned. 
A  rope-walk  was  also  established  during  the  year,  near  the  market  house,  and  the 
Pension  Agency  was  removed  here  from  Corydon. 


FIRE  COMPANY— AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY,  4Q 

The  completion  of  the  State  House  in  1835,  in  time  for  the  meeting  of  the 
Legislature  in  December,  was  the  most  noted  event  of  the  year,  though  less 
directly  connected  with  our  municipal  history  than  another  event  that  sprang  from 
it.  As  it  approached  completion,  and  the  invaluable  deposits  of  public  laws  and 
records  which  it  would  contain  began  to  rise  into  full  appreciation,  the  Legislature 
•saw  the  necessity  of  protecting  it,  not  only  by  insurance,  but  by  preventive  agen- 
cies, and  authorized  the  Treasurer  to  procure  twenty-five  buckets,  with  suitable 
ladders  for  reaching  the  roof,  and  to  pay  half  the  expense  of  getting  a  fire  engine, 
if  the  citieens  would  make  up  the  other  half.  A  meeting  was  held  on  the  12th  of 
February  to  effect  this  object,  and  the  existing  fire- bucket  company — which  had 
done  little  more  good  than  furnish  the  harness-making  establishments  with  pretty 
fair  contracts  for  leather  buckets  like  small  barrels,  awkward  in  shape  and  unman- 
ageable in  service,  for  it  was  hard  to  throw  water  out  of  them  on  account  of  their 
contracted  mouths — was  reorganized  as  the  Marion  Fire  Engine,  Hose,  and  Protec- 
tion Company,  with  Caleb  Scudder  as  the  first  captain.  The  meeting  requested 
the  town  trustees  to  raise  their  half  of  the  cost  of  an  en§ine  by  a  tax,  and  to  levy 
at  the  same  time  enough  to  construct  five  public  wells.  The  engine  called  the 
"Marion,"  an  "end-brake,"  of  the  best  construction,  by  Merrick  of  Philadelphia, 
and  by  far  the  most  serviceable  "machine"  the  city  ever  had,  was  bought  during 
the  year,  and  received  in  September.  It  was  placed,  as  before  stated,  in  a  small 
frame  house  on  the  north  side  of  the  Circle,  subsequently  enlarged  to  a  two-story, 
and  made  the  Council  chamber,  in  the  upper  story.  Thus  was  commenced  the  City 
Fire  Department,  always  a  prominent  feature  of  a  city  government  and  history.  A 
detailed  account  of  it,  and  its  abrogation  for  the  present  paid  steam  department, 
will  be  found  in  another  ptace. 

About  the  same  time  that  the  engine  company  was  formed,  the  first  State  Agri- 
cultural Society  was  organized,  with  James  Blake,  Larkin  Simms,  John  Owen  and 
M.  M.  Henkle  as  directors,  of  whom  Mr.  Blake  was  President  and  Mr.  Henkle  Sec- 
retary. Steps  were  taken  to  diffuse  a  knowledge  of,  and  interest  in,  agriculture  by 
premiums. for  essays,  and  to  organize  county  auxilliary  societies.  A  State  conven. 
tion  was  held  on  the  14th  of  December,  in  the  State  House,  at  which  little  was 
accomplished,  and  not  much  more  was  done  at  the  few  meetings  which  followed,  and 
the  affair  died.  It  was  premature.  The  country  was  too  new,  the  means  of 
transportation  too  inadequate,  to  allow  of  Fairs  and  a  competition  and  comparison 
of  agricultural  efforts,  and  without  these  practical  results  and  illustrations  a 
Society  can  not  hope  to  be  mere  than  a  debating  club.  A  county  society  was  formed 
here  in  June,  with  Nathan  B.  Palmer  as  President,  and  Douglass  Maguire  as  Sec- 
retary. Some  money  was  obtained  by  subscription  for  premiums,  and  the  Board 
of  Justices  donated  fifty  dollars  of  public  money,  so  that,  altogether,  the  society 
was  enabled  to  distribute  in  premiums  at  the  first  fair,  held  on  the  last  two  days  of 
October,  about  $180.  Subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  $400  were  made  for  the  next 
fair,  and  there  was  enough  local  interest  manifested  to  warrant  the  hope  that  the 
exhibition  would  become  permanent,  but  it  failed  with  the  State  society  in  a  few 
years. 

The  internal  improvement  fever  was  now  almost  at  its  hight.  Even  sober,  cal- 
culating men  began  to  see  lines  of  railway  stretching  off  to  every  point  of  the 
compass,  and  canals  with  long  processions  of  loaded  boats  pouring  wealth  into  the 
capital,  and  enterprise  through  every  corner  of  the  State.  Speculation  began  to 
grow  vigorous.  Of  all  the  projected  lines  of  improvement,  there  were  few  that 
did  not  aim  at  the  capital.  Property  was  bound  to  rise  in  value  as  business  crowded 


50  BOLLOWATS  INDIAXAPOtlS. 

the  streets.  And  as  imagination  saw  property  rising,  it  did  rise.  It  had  been  doing' 
so  for  a  year  or  two.  Lots  had  doubled  in  value  since  the  first  projected  set  of 
defunct  railroads  had  been  chartered.  On  Washington  street  they  were  worth  $69 
to  $75  a  front  foot.  This  was  something  promising;  for  a  youth,  with  his  first  vote 
to  cast,  may  recollect  when  lots  on  Washington  street,  between  Illinois  and  Meri- 
dian, with  buildings  upon  them — buildings  now  standing  as  incorporated  parts  .of 
palatial  structures — were  sold  for  $120  a  foot.  The  settlement  which,  since  the 
great  ague  epidemic  of  1821,  had  been  crowding  eastward,  began  to  surge  back 
towards  the  river  again.  Lots  along  the  probable  line  of  the  canal  became  valuable, 
and  sold  rapidly,  in  the  proportion  that  the  canal  now  impairs  their  value.  More 
than  one  family  established  itself  close  to  the  ditch,  as  a  choice  spot  for  a  residence, 
with  a  blindness  to  unsuitability  that  puzzles  one  now.  Among  others,  William 
Quarles,  the  lawyer,  with  considerable  aristocratic  pretensions,  built  a  house  on  the 
east  bank  of  the.  canal  and  south  side  of  Washington  street,  under  this  strange 
delusion.  The  fever  went  off,  in  a  few  years,  in  a  prostration  that  came  near  being 
fatal.  This  was  the  first  speculative  era  in  the  history  of  the  city.  In  the  earlier 
years,  when  lots  were  still  sold  by  the  State's  agent,  there  was  not  money  enough 
to  buy  for  speculation.  Most  of  it  was  done  with  the  purpose  of  holding  on. 

In  November  the  Benevolent  Society  was  organized,  with  very  much  the  same 
structure  that  it  still  retains.  Having  little  to  do,  and  appealing  for  support  directly 
to  every  householder  by  its  visitors,  it  was  kept  up  when  more  pretentious  affairs 
failed.  No  small  part  of  its  sustaining  influence  came  from  th"e  character  of  ths 
contributions  it  asked.  Like  "Bill  CrowderV'  charity  sermon,  it  wanted  "old 
clothes,  old  coats,  old  hats,  or  any  good-for-rrothing  old  thing  that  nobody  else  would 
have."  And  these  were  readily  given,  and  used  with  increasing  benefit  every  year. 
Money  was  not  usually  solicited  at  the  outset,  or  for  a  number  of  years  afterwards, 
though  it  was  often  given,  and  of  course,  judiciously  used.-  Now  it  is  really  a  very 
important  and  indispensable  institution,  managing  large  sums  of  money,  and  vast 
accumulations  of  clothing  and  other  benevolent  material.  Its  system  of  collection 
and  distribution  has  remained  unchanged,  and  its  management  is  in  very  much  the 
same  Hands,  except  as  death  has  removed  them,  that  first  undertook  it.  Visitors — 
a  gentleman  and  lady  of  the  highest  respectability  always — are  appointed  t» 
designated  portions  of  the  city,  and  they  apply,  armed  with  baskets,  at  every  house 
for  anything  that  poverty  and  distress  can  make  serviceable.  And  these  collec- 
tions- are  kept  in  charge  of  an  officer,  who  gives  them  out  on  the  order  of  the  mana- 
gers. A-  necessitous  person  has  only  to  see  any  one  of  the  score  of  managers  and 
show  that  there  is  no  imposition,  to  get  adequate  relief. 

A  literary  Society  was  formed  this  year,  too,  taking  the  place  of  the  Lyceum. 
It  was  a  young  men's  affair,  and  devoted  itself  to  the  ordinary  exercises  of  such 
associations,  debates  and  essays.  It  was  subsequently  merged  into,  or  compounded 
with,  the  Union  Literary  Society,  organized  by  the  elder  pupils  of  the  Seminary, 
and  by  the  latter  name  it  was  known  during  its  last  and  most  important  years, 
when  it  was  incorporated  under  the  general  law  (1847),  and  had,  by  much  solicita- 
tion, obtained  money  to  procure  lecturers  of  celebrity.  Its  own  members  some- 
times delivered  its  addresses,  but  the  ministers  of  the  city  more  frequently  were 
the  speakers,  and  their  churches  the  lecture  halls.  Henry  Ward  Beecher  delivered 
one,  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson,  the  amiable  and  gitted  Episcopal  rector,  delivered  two  or 
three,  Dr.  Fisher,  of  Cincinnati,  was  obtained  for  a  course  of  fjur  lectures  in  1848. 
Horace  Greeley  delivered  one  lecture  in  1853,  in  Masonic  Hall,  and  Rev.  J.  C 
Fletcher,  who  was  one  of  the  members  that  had  lectured  before  it  in  1847,  on  his 


INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENT  8Y8TEM.  eft 

return  from  Brazil  made  an  address  in  the  same  Hall.     It  was  the  predecessor,  and 
an  efficient  one,  too,  of  the  present  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  other  lecturing  associations. 

The  meteorology  of  1835  is  noteworthy.  The  spring  and  summer  were  remark- 
able for  the  frequency  and  volume  of  their  rain  falls.  At  Fort  Wayne,  it  was  reported 
by  Mr.  Jesse  L.  Williams,  says  Mr.  Brown,  that  ten  inches  of  rain  fell  in  two  hours. 
This  was  equal  to  a  water  spout.  Hardly  less  remarkable  was  the  occurrence  of  a 
severe  frost  on  the  night  of  the  1st  of  July,  and  the  succession  of  a  period  of  unu- 
sual heat  and  drouth.  On  August  18th  a  furious  tornado  swept  over  the  country, 
greatly  damaging  houses,  fences,  trees  and  stock.  And  the  winter  of  1835-36  was 
almost  unbroken  till  April. 

The  year  1836  is  memorable  both  in  State  and  municipal  history,  as  that  which 
gave  form  and  active  life  to  the  wild  schemes  of  improvement  so  often  adverted  to. 
The  National  road  was  in  process  of  construction.  The  New  York  and  Erie  Canal, 
a  gigantic  State  enterprise,  had  for  ten  years  been  successful  and  remunerative. 
Improvements  were  going  on  everywhere,  and  stimulating  a  spirit  here  which 
necessity  created.  The  country  was  rapidly  filling  up,  ahd  its  lands  thickening 
with  crops  of  grain,  and  teeming  with  hogs.  But  there  was  no  outlet  except 
through  vast  forests  and  almost  impassable  roads.  A  railroad  or  canal  would  be  of 
incalculable  benefit.  This  was  clear.  The  difiiculty  through  which  very  few  saw 
clearly,  or  saw  at  all,  was  that  every  section  of  the  State  wanted  a  railroad  or  a 
canal,  and  no  one  would  concede  its  claims  to  another,  and  none  could  be  made  a 
State  work  without  the  consent  of  the  others.  Thus  when  it  was  proposed  that  the 
State  should  undertake  the  work  of  internal  improvement,  these  sectional  jealous- 
ies, co-operating  with  the  general  confidence  that  every  work  when  completed  would 
pay  an  immense  revenue  to  the  Treasury,  making  taxation  an  obsolete  necessity, 
forced  the  assumption  of,  or  contribution  of  help  to,  nearly  every  enterprise  that  had 
been  projected,  in  which  there  was  any  appearance  of  life  or  prospect  of  final 
advantage.  The  State  took  them  all  up,  and  issued  $10,000,000  of  bonds,  to  raise 
the  money  to  prosecute  them.  The  act  was  passed  and  approved  on  the  26th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1836,  but  it  was  ascertained  by  a  test  vote  on  the  16th  that  the  Internal  Im- 
provement Bill  would  pass,  and  the  town  was  illuminated  at  night,  and  a  scene  of 
enthusiastic  congratulation  and  jollification  enacted  which  many  now  living  will 
remember,  not  only  for  its  brilliance,  but  for  the  period  of  suffering  and  stagnation 
to  which  it  led  so  speedily  and  certainly.  It  was  good  while  it  lasted.  The  con- 
sequence of  that  measure  was  a  State  debt  of  some  $15,088,000,  on  which  no  inter- 
est was  paid  for  six  or  seven  years.  The  great  financial  crash  of  1 83 Y  broke  down 
the  enterprise  in  1839,  and  at  that  time  it  was  abandoned.  The  combined  railroads, 
canals  and  turnpikes  amounted  to  1,289  miles,  and  only  281  in  the  aggregate  had 
been  completed,  at  an  expense  of  $8,164,528  21,  while  the  remaining,!, 008  miles  it 
was  estimated  would  cost  $19,914,244  more.  The  work  never  paid  the  State  a  cent. 
The  whole  cost  was  money  thrown  in  the  water.  In  1846  an  arrangement  was 
made  with  our  creditors  to  take  the  Wabash  and  Erie  Canal  with  some  2,000,000 
acres  of  land  donated  to  it  by  Congress,  to  complete  the  work  to  Evansville,  and  to 
keep  it  in  serviceable  condition,  in  payment  of  half  the  debt.  For  the  other  half 
of  the  principal,  5  per  cent,  bonds  were  issued,  and  for  the  unpaid  interest  2£  per 
cent,  bonds  were  given.  "Within  the  present  year  the  last  of  the  bonds  has  been 
redeemed,  and  the  last  dollai  of  the  burthen  created  by  the  measure  for  which  the 
town  was  illuminated  in  1836,  thirty-four  years  ago,  has  been  paid.  The  State  is- 
out  of  debt,  and  has  a  surplus.  As  remarked  in  the  first  part  of  this  chapter,  a 
large  portion  of  these  redeemed  bonds  have  been  paid  out  of  the  school  fund,  and 


52  BOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

thus  the  State  has  become  the  debtor  of  her  own  children  instead  of  foreign  cred- 
itors. The  interest  she  pays  now  goes  to  the  diffusion  of  free  education  instead  of 
the  pockets  of  plethoric  capitalists. 

An  attempt  was  made  at  the  Gubernatorial  election  in  the  year  following,  to 
stem  the  torrent  of  popular  caprice,  by  the  concentration  of  all  opposition  upon 
John  Dumont  for  Governor,  against  David  Wallace,  the  candidate  of  the  Improve- 
ment party,  pretty  much  the  same  as  the  Whig  party.  The  Dumont  men  called 
•themselves  the  "  Modifiers,"  who  wanted  to  take  up  a  work  at  a  time,  and,  carrying 
less  weight,  be  more  likely  to  get  through.  It  was  sound  policy,  but  there  were  too 
many  interests  involved  in  the  combination  of  enterprises  to  be  overborne  by  rea- 
.-son,  and  the  "  Modifiers  "  were  beaten.  Gov.  Wallace  was  eloquent  and  invincible  on 
<the  "stump"  in  his  exposition  of  the  advantages  of  the  possession  by  the  State  of 
>these  great  works.  Their  revenue  would  make  taxation  unnecessary,  the  develop- 
iment  of  business  they  would  create  would  give  profitable  employment  to  every  man, 
-and  "  two  dollars  aday  and  roastbeef  '  would  be  as  little  as  any  one  would  put  up  with. 
'That  "  two  dollars  and  roast  beef"  made  a  very  effective  Democratic  war  cry  during 
the  "hard  times."  from  1839  to  1844,  when  employment  was  scarce  and  money 
scarcer. 

The  same  disaster  that  overwhelmed  the  State's  credit  crushed  private  business. 
Merchants  owing  bills  for  goods  in  the  East,  made  unusually  large  by  the  freshet  of 
speculation  and  the  unhealthy  inflation  of  trade  of  the  preceding  years,  found  them- 
selves "broken,"  and  hog  speculators  "  went  down  "  as  fast  as  ever  their  droves  did 
before  the  slaughter  house  hammers  of  the  Cincinnati  packing  houses.     The  Bank, 
as  already  noted,  suspended  specie  payment.     Property  bought  at  the  big  prices  of 
ithe  enthusiastic  era  could  not  be  sold  at  all.     Nobody  had  any  money.     Men  with 
thousands  of  acres  of  rich  land,  and  dozens  of  eligible  town  lots,  were  no  better  able 
•to  p  iy  than  those  who  had  not  ground  enough  for  a  grave.     Several  remedies  were 
<devised  for  this  State  of  affairs,     first.  Eastern  creditors  were  wise  enough  to  see 
that  debts  pressed  to  execution  would  realize  nothing,  for  property  could  not  be 
sold;  so  they  gave  liberal  terms  of  settlement  in  most  cases,  trusting  to  the  revival 
•of  business  and  the  growth  of  the  town  to  put  their  dubtors  "on  their  feet,"  and 
enable  them  to  pay  in  full,  as  they  did.     Second.     The  Legislature  enacted  that  no 
^property  taken  in  excution  should  be  sold  for  less  than  two-thirds  of  its  appraised 
value,  and  a  certain  amount  of  household  property  was  exempted  from  execution 
^altogether.     This  secured  debtors  against  the  entire  loss  of  their  property  with  no 
.material  alleviation  of  their  debts.     Third.     The  Legislature  issued  bills,  secured  by 
the  credit  of  the  State,  popularly  known  as  "scrip,"  bearing  six  per  cent,  interest, 
•  and  receivable  for  taxes,  to  supply  the  deficiency  of  currency.     Two  or  three  later 
.issues  were  Aade,  bearing  a  smaller  rate  of  interest,  and  more  largely  discounted 
than  the  first.     This  resource  afforded  some  relief,  but  less  than  it  should,  for  the 
reason  that  the  "scrip"  had  little  credit  or  value  outside  of  the  State.     This  kept  it 
below  par  at  home.     For  a  long  time  the  usual  question  of  a  customer,  "  What 
is  the  price?"  was  answered  by  another,  "Scrip  or  State  Bank  paper?"     And  a 
-difference  of  one  dollar  in  five  was  the  result  of  the  answer  to  it.     In  Cincinnati 
the  first  issues  of  six  per  cents  were  long  worth  no  more  than  forty  or  fifty  cents 
on  the  dollar,  and  it  was  a  common  speculation  for  our  merchants  to  take  an  extra 
iundred  or  five  hundred  dollars  along  when  they  went  to  lay  in  stock,  to  buy  scrip 
with.     They  could  use  it  at  home  at  seventy-five  to  eighty-five  cents  on  the  dollar, 
and  make  twenty  to  fifty  per  cent,  by  the   speculation.     Gradually,  though,  the 
-"scrip"  passed  back  in  taxes  to  the  State  Treasury.     Its  six  per  cent,  interest 


THE  "  CHAIN  GANG."  gg 

added  considerably  to  its  value,  and  it  began  to  command  a  premium.  It  was  worth 
nearly  two  dollars  for  one  before  it  was  all  redeemed,  fifteen  years  afterwards. 

Business  began  to  feel  an  upward  impulse  in  1843,  but  it  was  not  till  the  Madi- 

railroad  began  creeping  towards  us  from  the  river  that  a  visible  and  active 
spirit  of  enterprise  appeared. 

In  February,  1836,  the  Legislature  gave  the  town  a  special  charter  of  incorpora- 
tion, a  new  board  of  trustees  was  elected  in  April,  and  the  old  one  retired  after 
four  years  of  service.  Their  settlement  sheet  showed  that  the  revenues  of  the  cap- 
ital were  not  enormous  enough  to  be  worth  fighting  for  in  those  days.  The  receipts 
for  the  year  ending  April  1st,  1836  were  only  $1,610,  and  most  of  that  had  been 
collected  by  a  special  levy  to  pay  for  the  "  Marion  "  engine,  for  public  wells,  and 
other  fire  provisions.  The  new  government  inherited  $124  from  its  predecessor,  and 
passed  some  stringent  ordinances  against  disorderly  and  riotous  conduct.  These 
would  have  been  more  important  if  they  could  have  been  enforced,  for  the  town  was 
full  of  wild,  reckless,  dangerous  men,  brought  here  by  the  work  on  the  National 
Road,  and  increased  by  the  influx  brought  by  the  canal. 

The  full  fruit  of  the  seeds  of  disorder  sown  here  by  these  public  works  was  not 
witnessed  till  a  year  or  two  afterwards,  but  from  about  this  period  till  the  return 
of  "good  times"  and  adequate  employment  for  labor,  the  riotous  population  made 
so  prominent  a  figure  that  a  history  would  be  incomplete  without  a  notice  of  it. 
The  central  figure  of  the  crowd  was  a  square  built,  "  chunky,"  agile  and  courageous 
man,  of  a  naturally  generous  temper,  and  a  rioter  more  through  reckless  love  of 
mischief  and  adventure  than  real  depravity,  named  Burkhart,  and  usually  called 
"  Old  Dave  Buckhart."  He  was  generally  seen  on  the  street  with  an  old  slouch  hat, 
breeches  kept  up  by  a  single  suspender,  no  coat  or  vest,  and  barefooted.  His  asso- 
ciates were  like  himself  in  appearance,  but  better  disposed  to  serious  outrage.  They 
lived  west  of  the  canal,  or  near  its  line,  in  what  is  now  called  "  Bucktown,"  and 
supported  themselves  mainly  by  stealing  their  neighbors'  corn,  pigs,  poultry  and 
potatoes.  Their  whisky  they  got  by  occasional  jobs  of  rude  and  exhausting  labor. 
They  dug  wells,  excavated  cellars  and  moved  houses.  When  not  thus  engaged, 
they  were  rioting,  and  not  unfrequently  robbing  outright.  They  were  called  the 
"chain  gang,"  and  the  terror  of  their  name  was  not  quite  lost  when  young  men 
now  living  were  born.  A  feud  between  them  and  the  colored  residents  was  a  mat- 
ter of  course.  They  were  all  of  that  political  faith  which  holds  a  negro  as  noth- 
ing, and  makes  him  a  fit  subject  of  outrage  and  oppression.  They  frequently 
sacked  negro  houses  and  abused  their  inmates,  and  kept  the  northwestern  corner  of 
the  town  in  a  perpetual  turmoil.  The  feud  culminated  in  a  collision  with  "  Old  man 
Overall,"  a  negro  of  rather  a  plucky  disposition,  who  had  some  sons  as  willing  to 
fight  as  any  white  man  could  be,  and  who  lived  on  the  open  common  near  the  pres- 
sent  line  of  Ohio  street,  east  of  the  military  park.  The  "chain  gang"  gave  out 
that  they  meant  to  "go  for"  the  Overalls  on  a  certain  night,  and  the  negro  gathered 
his  forces,  barricaded  doors  and  windows,  loaded  guns,  and  prepared  for  a  siege. 
The  assailants  made  a  demonstration  before  the  "colored  "  fortress,  but  a  few  shots 
and  the  formidable  preparations  warned  them  off,  and  the  warfare  resulted  in  a 
victory  for  the  negroes.  This  was  pretty  near  the  termination  of  their  career.  It 
was  effectually  ended  shortly  after  by  a  collision  as  novel  as  it  was  effective.  The 
Methodists  were  holding  a  camp  meeting  in  the  military  ground,  and,  under  the 
ministrations  of  Rev.  James  Havens,  then  in  the  prime  of  his  enormous  physical 
strength  and  impressive  but  uncultured  eloquence,  were  making  many  converts. 
On  the  third  day  of  the  meeting  Burkhart,  barefooted,  and  considerably  drunk 


54  HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

wandered  into  the  woods  and  around  the  camp  ground,  keeping  himself  quite  orderly 
and  unobtrusive.  An  additional  drink  or  two,  however,  "  started  "  him,  and  he 
began  marching  around  the  outer  line  of  the  seats,  shouting  a  dirty  couplet  of  some 
original  rhyme,  at  the  top  of  his  voice.  The  preacher  several  times  stopped  and 
kindly  asked  him  to  go  off  and  not  disturb  the  congregation,  but  without  effect.  At 
last  he  came  down  from  the  pulpit,  walked  right  up  to  "old  Buck"— a  bit  of  pluck 
that  astonished  him — and  asked  him  again  to  go  off  and  leave  the  worshippers 
alone.  He  swore  he  wouldn't,  and  Mr.  Havens  at  once  knocked  him  down  and 
whipped  him  till  he  roared.  His  defeat  by  a  preacher,  the  object  of  supreme  con- 
tempt to  the  "gang,"  ruined  the  leader's  power.  Shortly  afterwards  he  was  arrested 
for  some  misconduct  and  taken  before  'Squire  Scudder,  where  he  "  cavorted  "  and 
boasted  furiously,  till  Samuel  Merrill — as  he  used  to  tell  the  story  to  the  writer — 
good  humoredly  took  up  his  challenge  for  a  scuffle,  and  threw  him  violently  upon 
the  floor  of  the  'Squire's  office.  These  successive  humiliations,  and  the  growth  of 
the  moral  element  of  the  town,  were  too  much  for  "Old  Buck,"  and  he  moved  off 
to  the  Bluffy  where  he  reformed  and  died  at  an  advanced  age.  This  was  the  end 
of  the  "chain  gang;"  but  a  number  of  the  members  remained  in  the  town  and 
made  a  hard  and  uncertain  support  by  well-digging  and  house-moving.  The  lead- 
ing men  were  "  Big  John  Fletcher,"  a  gigantic  fellow,  a  perfect  Hercules  in  form, 
but  not  as  courageous  as  his  physical  powers  might  lead  one  to  fancy  he  would  be, 
and  John  Sparlan,  a  powerful  man,  of  less  stature  but  hardly  less  strength  thau 
Fletcher.  Though  they  created  a  good  deal  of  annoyance  by  irregularities  and 
petty  crimes,  the  "gang"  was  not  the  formidable  thing  it  had  been,  and  it  was 
killed  entirely  less  by  actual  resistance  than  discountenance.  Sparlan  was  stabbed 
and  killed  in  a  street  fight  with  John  Pogue,  the  son  of  the  first  settler  of  the  town. 
Fletcher  died  of  dissipation,  and  his  sons  followed  him,  one  or  two  by  murder,  one 
by  drowning,  and  one  by  the  effects  of  a  disorderly  life. 

A  favorite  amusement  of  this  period  was  running  "quarter  races."  The  course 
was  a  wide  lane,  covered  with  turf,  except  where  an  occsional  wagon  had  cut  down 
to  the  soil,  bordered  by  a  "staked-and-ridered  fence"  the  whole  length,  on  the  east 
side,  and  a  portion  of  the  way  by  a  similar  fence  on  the  west,  and  the  open  woods 
of  the  Military  ground.  It  was  the  portion  of  what  is  now  West  street,  lying 
north  of  the  "mill  race,"  and  extending  to  the  Michigan  road  (Indiana  avenue), 
at  Laquatt's  residence.  Crowds  of  idle  men  and  truant  school  boys  would  flock  out 
to  this  lane  and  line  the  fences  on  both  sides  like  crows,  to  watch  two  horses,  just 
taken  out  of  the  wagon  and  stripped  of  their  "gears,"  run  on  a  bet  of  five  dol- 
lars. The  races  were  usually,  however,  conducted  on  Saturday,  so  that  school  boys 
did  not  have  to  play  "hookey"  to  see  them,  and  they  were  the  bulk  of  the  specta- 
tors. "Selling  races"  were  occasionally  run  on  this  quarter  course,  and  provoked 
ugly  suspicions  sometimes,  and  sometimes  desperate  fights.  On  one  occasion  a  gen- 
tleman somewhat  known  in  connection  with  the  history  of  the  city,  was  thought  by 
some  of  the  spectators  to  have  helped  in  one  of  these  tricks,  and  the  celebrated 
Nat.  Vice,  the  pride  and  terror  of  the  city,  chased  him  home  through  innumerable 
dodges  and  back  alleys.  Nathaniel  Vice  was  so  prominent  a  figure  of  this  era  of 
the  city,  and  so  remarkable  a  character,  that  it  would  be  improper  not  to  speak  of 
him  a  little  more  fully.  He  was  a  young  man,  not  over  thirty,  at  the  time,  of  the 
middle  hight,  compactly  though  not  heavily  formed,  with  dark  hair,  eyes  and  skin, 
and  a  power  of  muscle  absolutely  unequaled.  No  professional  acrobat  or  gymnast 
approached  him,  for  his  feats  he  performed  with  no  preparation  of  cords  or  bars  or 
years  of  training.  He  was  utterly  fearless,  always  ready  for  a  fight,  generous  in 


Iff  EARLY  DAYS.  55 

temper,  manly,  epen  and  honorable.  He  was  a  contractor  on  the  canal  in  1839, 
when  the  public  works  were  abandoned  by  the  State,  and  found  himself  with  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  arrears  to  his  Irish  employes,  and  with  no  money  in  the  State 
Treasury  to  pay  them.  He  called  his  "hands"  up,  explained  the  case  to  them, 
showed  them  all  his  money,  and  distributed  it  among  them  to  the  last  cent  in  pro- 
portion to  the  a'm<ount  due,  promising  that  he  would  pay  the  balance  as  soon  as  the 
State  paid  him.  For  a  little  while  the  Irishmen  seemed  content  with  this  arrange- 
ment, but  coming  up  town  and  getting  a  drink  or  two  ahead,  they  began  to  feel 
cheated,  and  resolved  to  punish  the  contractor.  He  came  up  the  street  shortly  after, 
and  seeing  eight  or  ten  of  his  "boys"  round  the  door  of  the  "Union  Hotel"  saloon, 
he  invited  them  in  and  treated  them.  He  left  the  room  and  they  followed  him.  On 
reaching  the  street,  -they  began  cursing  him  and  demanding  their  money.  He  ex- 
plained to  no  purpose,  and  saw  thai  he  would  have  to  fight.  Eight  of  them  set 
upon  him  together,  and  in  two  minutes  he  had  whipped  the  whole  of  them  so  badly 
that  they  were  more  than  willing  to  quit.  He  fought  with  feet  as  well  as  hands, 
and  as  he  prostrated  one  man  with  a  blow  of  his  fist  he  sprang  into  the  air  and 
kicked  the  leader  in  the  face  so  fearfully  that  he  fell  senselss  and  helpless,  and  was 
for  a  time  thought  to  be  dead.  That  was  the  biggest  fight  ever  known  in  the  town, 
though  "  Big  Bill  Crowder,"  the  son  of  our  first  restaurant  keeper,  and  the  man  who 
gave  the  name  to  the  "Crowder  farm"  and  "Crowder's  ford"  in  the  river,  once  or 
twice  whipped  three  or  four  of  the  "  Waterloo,"  crowd'  a  set  of  uncouth  country 
cubs  from  the  ague-infected -region  of  what  is.  now  «alled  "  Lanergan's  Lake,"  in 
the  east  bottom  of  White  River. 

The  fighting  in  the  early  days  of  the  capital  was  quite  a  feature  in  its  social,  or 
unsocial,  life.  No  Saturday  passed  without  one,  or  commonly,  a  half  dozen.  And 
a  good  deal  of  it  was  desperate  and  mischievous  enough  for  the  hungriest  hunter  of 
gladiatorial  fun.  It  was  not  done  to  attract  attention  and  create  notoriety  either; 
at  least  not  in  many  cases.  It  is  authentically  related  that  Andrew  Wilson  and 
Zadoc  Smith,  while  engaged  in  the  mill  on  McCarty's  bayou — a  stream  now  pretty 
much  used  up — quarrelled,  and  agreed  to  go  into  the  woods  alone  and  fight  it  out. 
They  did,  and  came  back  together  in  a  half  hour,  with  torn  clothes  and  fearfully 
bruised  faces,  but  no  report  as  to  the  result  of  the  fight.  Nobody  ever  found  out 
which  whipped.  Capt.  Alexander  Wiley  and  "big  Jim  Smith,"  the  tailor,  once 
quarrelled,  and  adjourned,  alone,  to  the  vacant  State  House  square  to  settle  the 
difficulty  with  an  amicable  fight.  They  did  it,  after  a  fearful  combat,  and  came  back 
together  on  excellent  terms.  A  large,  strong,  surly  fellow  from  "  Waterloo,"  by 
the  name  of  Bob  Stevens,  was  for  a  long  time  the  terror  not  only  of  the  "bottom," 
but  of  the  town,  in  which  he  invariably  had  a  fight  whenever  he  emerged  from  the 
mud  and  iron  weeds,  of  his  "native  heath,"  to  indulge  his  taste  for  Jerry  Collins' 
whisky.  He  had  whipped  and  cruelly  hurt  so  many  courageous  boys  who  were  too 
plucky  to  be  "run  over"  by  him,  and  not  strong  enough  to  fight  him,  that  he  was 
regarded  as  a  sort  of  "ogre,"  and  was  allowed  to  "tear  about"  pretty  much  as  he 
pleased.  Finally  he  encountered  a  short,  very  square-shouldered,  deep-chested 
young  man  by  the  name  of  Eli  Glimpse,  and,  as  usual,  attempted  to  "ride  rough 
shod"  over  him.  The  result  was  a  fight,  in  which  Stevens  was  nearly  killed;  his 
face  was  knocked  to  pieces,  one  of  his  eyes  destroyed  and  his  arm  broken,  while  his 
antagonist  had  a  thumb  bitten  round  and  round  below  the  first  joint,  clear  to  the 
bone,  as  a  boy  bites  a  pawpaw  stick  to  break  it.  It  ruined  his  left  hand.  These 
will  serve  as  specimens  of  the  Saturday  diversions  of  the  people  along  about  the 
time  under  consideration. 


gg  BOLLOWAT'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  impulse  given  to  business  and  speculation  by  the  internal  Improvement 
system  soon  reached  its  climax.  The  general  financial  convulsion  of  1837  followed 
close  upon  it,  and  warned  shrewd  men  of  the  peril  of  spreading  more  sail  than 
was  absolutely  necessary  to  give  "  steerage  way."  Speculation  was  checked  and 
soon  killed  outright.  The  costly  lots  on  the  canal  were  given  up,  and  business 
shrank  back  to  its  old  channel  of  Washington  street,  east  of  Illinois.  But  still  there 
was  a  good  deal  of  improvement  going  on,  and  some  manufacturing  growing  into- 
profitable  proportions.  The  "  Washington  Hall,"  so  long  the  leading  hotel  of  the 
State,  and  as  well  known  as  the  Whig  headquarters  of  Indiana  as  Tammany  Hall 
is  as  Demcratic  headquarters  in  New  York,  was  this  year  (1836)  erected  on  the 
site  of  the  frame  tavern  of  Samuel  Henderson.  It  was,  at  that  time,  the  finest  and 
costliest  private  structure  that  had  been  built  or  projected  in  the  town.  It  was 
owned  by  a  company,  and  opened  by  Edmund  Browning,  on  the  16th  of  November, 
1837,  and  by  him  retained  till  1851.  A  full  account  of  it  and  of  our  hotels  gener- 
ally will  be  found  in  another  place. 

On  the  27th  of  April  Arnold  Lashley,  a  fiery-blooded  Kentuckian,  who  was 
carrying  on  a  carriage  manufactory  on  the  square  of  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  and  the 
Post  ofiice,  fronting  Pennsylvania  street,  quarrelled  with  a  man  named  Zachariah 
Collins,  who  was  hauling  timber  for  him,  or  engaged  in  some  like  labor  about  the 
establishment,  and  in  a  fury  struck  him  with  a  single-tree  and  killed  him.  This 
murder  created  an  intense  excitement.  Lashley  was  "aristocratic,"  "put  on  style," 
and  "held  himself  too  high  for  common  people,"  and  if  the  population  of  new  settle- 
ments hate  any  one  thing  more  than  another  it  is  a  man  or  woman  who  sets  up  a 
little  social  superiority.  Collins  was  a  poor  man,  and  he  had  been  killed  for 
nothing.  There  was  serious  danger  that  the  murderer  would  be  lynched.  He,  how- 
ever, had  a  preliminary  examination  and  was  held  to  bail,  which  he  forfeited.  He 
ran  off  and  was  never  heard  of  again. 

The  County  Agricultural  Society  held  its  second  fair  on  the  7th  and  8th  of 
October,  and  Calvin  Fletcher  stated  in  his  address  that  there  were  thirteen  hun- 
dred farmers  in  the  county,  and  that  they  produced  an  average  of  one  thousand 
bushels  of  corn  each.  If  he  had  only  told  us  the  average  number  of  acres  to  a 
farm,  or  assigned  to  corn  growing,  his  statement  would  have  been  of  real  value,  as 
enabling  us  to  compare  the  productiveness  of  the  country  at  that  time  with  its  pro- 
ductiveness now,  and  to  see  whether  there  has  been  a  material  deterioration.  A 
map  of  the  town  was  published  in  the  fall  by  Dr.  Luke  Munsell,  and  one  of  the 
county,  by  William  Sullivan,  surveyor,  since  better  known  as  'Squire  Sullivan,  who 
held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  nearly  one  generation,  and  still  lives 
happy  and  honored  among  us.  Dr.  Munsell  was  a  "  queer  genius,"  a  deeply  learned 
man,  of  various  and  valuable  attainments,  who  yet  never  made  all  of  them  of  half 
as  much  service  as  an  inferior  man  would  have  made  one  of  them.  He  pub- 
lished a  map  of  Kentucky  when  he  was  State  Engineer,  before  he  came  here.  He 
also  opened  here  the  first,  or  among  the  first,  Daguerrian  establishments.  A  mat- 
tress and  cushion  manufactory  was  commenced  by  Hiram  Devinney,  on  West  Ma- 
ryland street,  near  the  canal,  and  a  linseed  oil  mill  was  operated  by  his  son,  Frank 
Devinney,  in  the  alley  south  of  Maryland  street.  In  February,  1836,  the  first 
home  Insurance  Company  was  chartered,  with  $200,000  capital,  and  valuable 
banking  privileges.  The  charter  ran  for  fifty  years.  Its  direction  was  organized  a 
few  weeks  afterwards,  with  Douglass  Maguire  as  President,  and  Caleb  Scudder  as 
Secretary.  It  never  did  much,  and  died  in  the  "hard  times."  In  1865  the  old 
worthless  stock  waa  bought  up,  the  charter  renewed,  and  a  new  and  vigorous  com- 


INSURANCE  BUSINESS.  57 

pany  organized,  as  the  Indianapolis  Insurance  Company,  with  Win.  Henderson  as 
President,  and  Alexander  C.  Jameson  HS  Secretary.  The  old  Branch  Bank  building, 
on  Virginia  avenue  and  Pennsylvania  street,  was  bought  and  is  now  occupied  by 
it.  Until  within  the  past  ten  years,  the  business  of  Insurance,  though  considera- 
ble, was  trifling  to  what  it  is  now.  The  agencies  were  usually  held  by  lawyers,  who 
took  them  rather  as  accommodations  than  as  profitable  enterprizes,  and  no  attempt 
was  made  to  push  business.  'The  companies  were  all  of  the  East.  Now  this  is  a 
vast  interest,  with  a  score  or  two  of  agencies,  and  some  flourishing  domestic  compa- 
nies and  it  plays  no  subordinate  part  in  the  statistics  of  the  city's  business. 


1  f . 


MILITIA  MUSTERS — VOLUNTEER  COMPANIES — SWAMP  DRAINAGE— NEW  CHURCHES — 

FEMALE  INSTITUTE,  AND  OTHER  SCHOOLS NEW  CITY  GOVERNMENT  —  STEAM 

FOUNDRY — GOVERNOR'S  HOUSE — ABANDONMENT  OF  PUBLIC  WORKS  —  CENTRAL 
CANAL  —  MADISON  RAILROAD  —  SECOND  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  AND  HENRY 
WARD  BEECHEB. 

T  THE  time  of  the  organization  of  the  State  Government,  Indian  wars  were 
fresh  in  the  memories  of  the  settlers,  and  the  danger  of  their  renewal,  or 

at  least  of  local  outbreaks  and  murders,  so  evident,  that  a  preparation  for 
military  service  was  wisely  enough  deemed  indispensable,  and  laws  were  enacted 
constituting  the  State  militia  of  all  able  bodied  men  of  a  certain  age,  forming 
them  into  regiments,  usually  of  counties,  and  enjoining  general  "musters"  for  the 
purpose  of  drill  and  keeping  alive  the  military  spirit,  from  which  no  absence  was 
allowed  without  reasonable  excuse,  and  for  neglect  of  which  fines  were  imposed. 
The  system  was  really  too  broad  ever  to  be  made  very  efficient,  and  it  gradually 
broke  down  into  total  disuse.  But  for  many  years  the  annual  or  semi-annual 
"musters"  were  kept  up,  and  constituted,  next  to  the  Fourth  of  July,  the  great 
holiday  and  spectacle  of  the  season.  The  regiment  of  this  county  usually  turned 
out  from  three  hundred  to  four  hundred  men,  most  of  them  armed  with  squirrel- 
rifles,  but  some  with  hoe-handles  and  others  with  corn-stalks,  a  few  hours  were 
spent  in  elementary  drills  in  the  "  manual,"  and  in  marching,  sometimes  in  the 
pasture  north  of  Market  street,  called  "  Bates  Groove,"  and  sometimes  in  the 
common  south  of  Maryland  street  and  west  of  Tennessee.  The  display  was  of  lit- 
tle value  in  any  respect,  as  the  enforeeement  of  discipline  was  impossible,  and  the 
attention  given  to  drilling  too  slight  to  enable  even  a  willing  tyro  to  learn  much. 
It  was  usually  made  the  occasion  of  a  great  deal  of  boisterous  fun,  and  the  provoca- 
tion to  fights  enough  to  have  nourished  the  military  spirit  richly  if  fist- work  could 
do  it.  To  the  boys  of  those  days  it  was  a  very  exciting  spectacle  to  see  the  long 
line  of  men  marching  down  the  street  with  Glidden  True  playing  the  fife,  and  "old 
Peter  Winchell"  beating  the  drum,  at  its  head,  while  the  gallant  Col.  Russell,  with 
flashing  sword  and  brilliant  epaulets,  and  his  hat  decorated  with  a  tall  plume  of 
white  feathers  tipped  with  red,  rode  dashingly  along,  from  front  to  rear  or  rear  to 
front,  shouting  his  orders  and  stirring  up  the  dust  distractingly.  The  utter  useless- 
ness  of  the  militia  system  would  doubtless  have  killed  it  sooner  than  it  did,  but  for 
two  cause*:  1st,  the  "fun  of  the  thing,"  which  was  no  little  matter  to  a  hard- 
working community,  with  few  holidays,  and  little  opportunity  to  enjoy  even  those 
few ;  and  second,  the  facilities  afforded  by  it  for  electioneering.  The  militia  was 
then  about  as  straight  a  road  to  political  preferment  as  the  law  is  now,  and  there 
were  few  Congressmen  or  Legislators  or  county  officers,  who  did  not  trace  their 
popularity  to  ther  militia  connections  and  positions. 


MILITARY  COMPANIES.  59 

The  decay  or  desuetude  of  the  militia  parades  left  the  town  with -no  military 
attractions  for  some  years,  but  still  the  spirit  was  only  sleeping,  not  dead.  Vol- 
unteer companies  -began  to  be  formed,  and  as  they  were  h«-ld  by  a  constitution  and 
laws  framed  expressly  for  each  case,  there  was  a  good  deal  of  effective  attention 
given  to  the  dry  duty  of  learning  elementary  work.  They  were  not  large  in  num- 
bers, but  they  were  uniformed  handsomely,  worked  and  performed  the  manual 
well,  and  made  a  very  different  impression  from  the  motley  half  armed  mob  of  the 
militia  days.  The  spirit  thus  rekindled  never  again  died  out  so  entirely  but  that 
some  military  organization  was  in  existence  to  be  stirred  into  occasional  displays. 
The  first  of  these  companies  was  organized  in  February,  1837,  under  Col.  Russell  as 
Captain,  and  was  called  the  "  Marion  Guards."  Their  uniform  was  of  gray  cloth, 
neat  and  tasteful,  with  black  "patent  leather"  shakos,  or  high,  bell-shaped  hats, 
with  short,  bulbous  cockades  of  black  cotton.  They  were  armed  with  the  old  fash- 
ioned flint-lock  musket,  as  the  cap  arm  had  not  been  supplied  to  all  the  States  by 
the  General  Government.  They  were  drilled  in  the  old  stately  Prussian  fashion, 
and  were  really  well  drilled.  Their  monthly  or  quarterly  parades  were  a  time  of 
general  jubilee  to  the  younger  population.  Thomas  A.  Morris,  then  recently  grad- 
uated from  West  Point,  succeeded  Capt.  Russell  in  the  following  summer,  and  under 
his  thorough  mastery  of  the  art  the  company  soon  reached  the  perfection  that 
made  it  so  attractive.  A  year  afterwards  another  company  was  organized  and 
incorporated  (February  14,  1838),  under  Capt.  Thomas  McBaker.  It  was  called 
the  "Marion  Rifles"  or  Riflemen,  and  was  armed  with  a  sort  of  breech-loading 
rifle,  which  was  among  the  first  attempts  to  introduce  that  class  of  arms  into  the 
military  service  in  any  country.  The  lower  part  of  the  barrel  next  to  the  lock  was 
detached  from  the  main  portion,  and  worked  upon  a  hinge  at  the  breech,  which 
allowed  the  upper  end  to  be  pushed  up  by  a  rude,  awkward  trigger,  that  protruded 
below,  and  enabled  the  soldier  to  push  his  cartridge  into  the  chamber  with  his 
finger.  A  blow  with  the  hand  pushed  it  back  to  its  place,  and  the  gun  was  ready 
for  firing.  But  the  movable  breech  was  flat,  broad  and  ugly,  the  weapon  cumbrous 
and  unhandy,  and  so  liable,  in  haste  or  excitement,  to  leave  the  breech  with  the 
cartridge  imperfectly  pushed  to  its  place,  and  thus  fired,  so  as  to  endanger  itself 
and  the  soldier,  that  it  was  not  retained  more  than  two  or  three  years.  The  uniform 
of  the  Rifles  was  a  blue  fringed  hunting-shirt,  and  blue  pantaloons,  with  caps,  a 
less  soldierly  looking  but  decidedly  more  comfortable  dress  than  that  of  the 
"Guards."  The  latter,  from  their  pepper  and  salt  dress,  were  called  "  Grey  Backs," 
the  others  were  "The  Arabs,"  a  name  of  purely  conjectural  derivation.  These 
companies  sometimes,  by  agreement,  fought  sham  battles  along  "Washington  street, 
the  "Guards"  marching  up  with  stately  tread  and  firing  by  platoons,  while  the 
"  Arabs,"  practicing  the  "Skirmish  Drill,"  would  lie  down  in  the  dust,  fire,  and  load? 
rise,  retreat  in  a  run,  drop  down  and  fire  again,  to  the  intense  admiration  of  all 
beholders.  In  1842  the  two  formed  themselves  into  a  battalion  under  the  command 
of  Lieut.  Col.  Harvey  Brown,  and  Major  George  Drum.  The  Mexican  war  replaced 
this  pacific  military  feeling  with  one  more  to  the  purpose,  and  company  organi- 
zations languished  again,  with  short  intervals  of  resuscitation,  till  a  few  years 
before  the  Rebellion  called  for  all  the  war  spirit  and  skill  the  nation  had.  A  more 
particular  notice  of  qur  military  companies  will  be  found  in  another  place. 

Early  in  February  Calvin  Fletcher  and  Thomas  Johnson  were  appointed  com- 
missioners by  the  Legislature  to  procure  subscriptions  of  money  from  the  citizens 
to  drain  the  swamp  on  the  northeast,  which  frequently  sent  very  annoying  streams 
down  through  the  "bayous"  or  ravines  spoken  of  in  the  first  chapter  of  this  his- 


gO  HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

tory.  Sometimes,  when  flooded  with  heavy  rains,  or  by  the  overflow  of  Fall  Creek) 
it  became  a  serious  mischief,  filling  houses  along  the  bayous  and  overflowing  gar- 
dens, breaking  down  fences,  and  damaging  property  generally.  The  commissioners 
raised  the  money  and  dug  a  ditch  westward  to  Fall  Creek,  through  Mr.  Johnson's 
farm,  and  through  a  portion  of  the  present  Fair  Ground.  This  answered  the  pur- 
pose until  the  extraordinary  flood  of  1847  occurred,  which  will  be  noticed  in  its 
place. 

In  1821  the  Legislature  gave  the  town,  for  a  west  market  ground,  the  north 
half  of  square  50,  now  lying  north  of  the  mill  race,  and  between  the  canal  and 
West  street,  but  needing  it  for  the  use  of  the  Board  of  Internal  Improvements,  an 
act  was  passed  donating  in  its  place  the  north  half  of  square  48,  the  present  West 
Market  space,  and  deeds  were  exchanged  for  the  lots.  At  this  time  the  first  appear- 
ance of  a  movement,  which  has  since  become  quite  a  conspicuous  feature  of  politics, 
occurred.  The  carpenters  formed  an  association  and  fixed  a  day's  work  at  ten 
hours,  though  there  is  no  record  that  they  expected  to  get  twelve  hours'  wages  for 
it  In  this  they  differed  from  the  demands  of  Mr.  Trevallick  and  the  venal,  self, 
seeking,  half-brained  fellows  like  him,  who  are  trying  to  make  labor  ridiculous  by 
making  it  demand  pay  for  what  it  don't  do. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1837,  the  Episcopalians  who,  though  not  a  numerous 
body,  were  among  the  foremost  citizens  of  the  place  in  wealth,  enterprise  and  edu- 
cation, organized  a  church,  with  Rev.  James  B.  Britton  as  rector.  They  had  held 
occasional  meetings  since  1835,  making  them  more  frequent  and  with  increas- 
ing attendance  during  the  next  year,  and  this  spring  concluded  they  were  strong 
enough  to  organize  and  build  a  church.  Preliminary  steps  were  at  once  taken,  and 
"ground  broken"  for  the  building,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Circle  and  Meridian 
streets,  in  November.  On  the  7tb  of  May,  1838,  the  corner  stone  was  laid,  the  first 
edifice  in  the  city,  the  writer  tninks,  that  was  provided  with  that  bit  of  ceremonial 
masonry.  Mr.  Foster,  the  jeweler,  then  just  returned  from  the  East,  deposited  in 
the  cavity  of  the  stone  some  coins  of  the  new  issue,  with  the  "Goddess  of  Liberty' 
upon  them.  They  were  the  first  that  had  been  brought  to  the  town.  The  usual 
newspapers  and  documents  were  also  enclosed.  The  church  was  opened  for  wor- 
ship in  November,  1838,  and  used  till  1857,  when  it  was  sold  to  the  African  Methodist 
church,  removed  to  West  Georgia  street,  and  burned  by  incendiary  rowdies  a  few 
years  aftewards.  A  superb  stone  building  of  Gothic  architecture,  with  stained 
windows  and  a  chime  of  bells,  replaced  it  in  1857-59.  A  further  notice  will  be 
made  of  it  in  its  place. 

About  the  time  the  Episcopal  church  was  organized  the  Evangelical  Lutherans 
concluded  that  they  were  strong  enough  to  make  and  maintain  an  organization 
and  they  held  their  first  church  meeting  on  the  14th  of  May,  with  .Rev.  A  Reck  as. 
pastor.  An  attempt  was  made  to  put  a  church  building  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  University  Square,  as  mentioned  in  the  notice  of  that  square,  and  authority  was 
given  by  the  Legislature  for  a  lease  of  the  necessary  ground;  but  it  was  thought  to 
be  too  far  north  at  that  time — and  really  there  was  but  little  of  the  town  north  of 
the  Seminary  in  1837 — and  the  location  was  changed  to  Ohio  street,  near  the  corner 
of  Meridian.  « 

This  year  witnessed  the  commencement  of  the  first  „  female  school  that 
approached  the  rather  indefinite  grade  of  an  Academy,  that  the  town  had  known. 
It  was  called  the  "Indianapolis  Female  Institute,"  and  was  chartered  by  tht 
Legislature  during  the  preceding  winter,  and  opened  on  the  14th  of  June  by  two 
maiden  sisters  of  considerable  attainments  and  capacity  as  instructors,  Misses  Mary 


SCHOOLS  AND  SCHOOL  WASTERS.  Q± 

J.  Axtell  and  Harriet  Axtell.  It  flourished  vigorously  for  twelve  years,  and  filled 
about  the  same  place  among  the  future  mothers  and  household  managers  of  the 
town  that  the  Seminary  under  Mr.  Kemper  did  among  the  fathers  and  business 
managers.  It  was  a  good  school,  but  the  Misses  Axtell  were  strongly  imbued  with 
the  rather  intolerant  religious  ideas  of  the  old  New  England  dispensation,  and 
made  them  unnecessarily  prominent  in  their  discipline.  Its  reputation  was  so 
high  that  not  a  few  pupils  came  from  other  towns  and  the  adjoining  States  to  attend 
it.  Towards  the  end  of  its  course  Rev.  Charles  Axtell,  a  brother,  gave  his  assist- 
ance in  some  of  the  departments,  but  no  help  could  supply  the  place  of  the  princi- 
pal, whose  failing  health  withdrew  her  more  and  more  from  her  assiduous  attention 
to  her  duties,  and  compelled  her  to  close  the  Institute  in  the  fall  of  1849,  and 
betake  herself  to  a  milder  climate.  It  proved  a  useless  effort.  She  died  on  her 
way  to  Cuba  the  same  year. 

In  the  fall  of  1837,  a  school  house  was  completed  on  Circle  street,  just  north 
of  the  corner  of  Circle  and  Market,  and  next  to  the  lot  upon  which  Henry  Ward 
Beecher's  church  was  subsequently  placed.  It  was  a  neat  frame  structure,  divided 
into  two  rooms  by  sliding  doors,  and  surmounted  with  a  little  belfry.  It  was  first 
occupied  by  Mr.  Gilman  Marston,  who  had  previously  taught  a  little  school  in  the 
second  story  of  one  of  the  buildings  east  of  the  Union  Hotel,  or  Capital  House — 
recently  the  Sentinel  office — and  had  earned  a  good  reputation  as  a  faithful  and 
painstaking  teacher,  whom  the  boys  liked  because  he  rarely  whipped.  Discipline 
with  him  was  subordinate  to  acquisition,  and  if  scholars  studied  well  and  made 
good  progress,  he  did  not  inquire  with  savage  strictness  into  the  exact  responsi- 
bility for  the  wad-throwing  that  covered  the  walls  with  little  dabs  of  unfinished 
paper-mache,  or  the  real  sinner  in  the  buzz  that  broke  out  of  some  knot  of  young 
heads  and  interrupted  an  older  boy's  recitation  of  the  oration  against  Cataline, 
or  Virgil's  account  of  the  way  to  make  bees.  With  him,  in  charge  of  the  Fe- 
male Department,  was  Mrs.  Eliza  Richmond,  for  many  years  after  one  of  the 
most  energetic  and  efficient  of  all  the  workers  in  benevolent  projects  in  the 
the  city.  Mr.  Marston  remained  nearly  two  years.  He  has,  as  noted  in  a  preceding 
chapter,  since  reached  a  position  of  national  influence,  as  a  member  of  Congress, 
a  gallant  and  disabled  General  during  the  war,  and  n^^  as  Governor  of  one  of 
our  Rocky  Mountain  Territories.  He  was  succeeded  by  Orlando  ^  ',er,  who  died 
the  year  following,  and  the  school  was  taken  by  Mr.  John  Wheeler,  afterwards  a 
Professor  in  Asbury  University.  He  retained  it  for  several  years,  and  on  leaving 
it  for  the  Professor's  chair,  it  was  discontinued.  It  was  called  the  "  Franklin 
Institute."- 

Preceding  this  school  by  several  years,  and  rivaling  even  the  County  Seminary  in 
point  of  age,  was  a  school  on  the  north  wtst  corner  of  Market  and  Delaware  streets, 
kept  by  teachers  who  either  had  taught  in,  or  were  subsequently  transferred  to 
the  seminary,  except,  the  last  one.  The  house  had  been  a  carpenter's  shop,  and  was 
rudely  benched  about  with  the  faces  fronting  the  wall,  and  provided  with  rough 
slabs  with  tressels,  for  seats.  Its  last  occupant  was  Mr.  Josephus  Cicero  Worrall, 
as  incompetent  a  teacher  and  as  accomplished  a  "blatherskite"  as  ever  worried 
either  end  of  a  pupil.  He  was  a  very  iridifferent^scholar  and  very  indifferent  to 
the  pn>gre>s  6*f  his  pupils.  His  pay  was  all  he  cared  for.  His  inordinate  fondness  for 
tobacco,  which  he  chewed  incessantly  even  when  he  smoked,  his  penuriousness,  bis 
making  scholars  help  him  in  his  household  work,  to  carry  "water,  saw  wood,  dig  po- 
tatoes aiid  do  general  gratuitous  service,  with  his  unremitting  severity,  which  was 
as  indiscriminate  as  it  was  harsh,  made  him  the  thorough  detestation  of  every  boy 


62          *  .  HOLLOWAY'8  INDIANAPOLIS. 

and  girl  that  ever  was  under  his  care,  and  the  ludicrous  pomposity  of  his  quarterly 
announcements  of  a  new  term,  invariably  signed  with  his  full  name  "  Josephus 
Cicero  Worrall,"  made  him  the  laughing  stock  of  older  persons.  He  was  a  "char- 
acter" and  a  very  unpleasant  one.  The  first  and  only  successful  attempt  at  "bar- 
ring out"  ever  made  in  the  city,  was  instigated  by  dislike  of  him.  His  scholars  of 
both  sexes  "barred/'  him  "out"  on  the  Christmas  of  1837  and  forced  him  to  treat 
to  apples,  which  all  the  older  ones  threw  contemptuously  away  before  his  face.  He 
was  forced,  by  the  general  dislike  he  had  created,  to  abandon  school  teaching  about 
the  year  1843  or  '44,  and  leave  the  city.  He  returned  ten  or  twelve  years  after- 
wards and  was  engaged  in  the  stove  and  tinware  trade,  with  little  success,  for  a 
short  time. 

At  the  same  time  that  Mr.  Worrall  was  teaching  in  the  old  carpenter's  shop,  an 
old  man  by  the  name  of  Main,  a  Scotchman,  of  excellent  capacity  and  attainments, 
but  the  most  completely  "distrait"  and  absent  minded  creature  ever,  born,  taught 
in  the  house  near  the  opposite  corner,  on  the  south,  where  Aquilla  Noe,  the  black- 
smith, and  for  many  years  a  constable  of  the  township,  had  lived.  At  this  school 
a  pupil  could  learn  if  he  chose,  or  play  if  he  liked  that  better,  and  most  of  them 
did.  With  his  head  squeezed  between  his  hands,  except  when  one  of  them  was 
shoveling  great  heaps  of  snuff,  strong  enough  to  sneeze  the  neck  of  a  rhinoceros 
into  dislocation,  from  an  old  horn  "mull,"  into  a  nose  that  looked  as  if  he  had 
smeared  it  with  molasses  to  make  the  tobacco  stick  in  lumps  and  strings  all  round 
his  nostrils,  he  would  pore  over  Stewart  or  Hamilton  and  forget  that  he  ever  had  a 
school.  The  most  unruly  disturbances  did  not  disturb  him.  The  boys  could  fight, 
play  marbles,  pull  pins  and  throw  books  without  arousing  him.  To  run  out  into 
the  back  yard  and  play  "  hide  and  whoop  '  among  the  mustard  stalks  was  an  every 
day  amusement.  Not  unfrequently  he  would  hear  but  a  single  recitation  and  for- 
get the  others,  unless  a  pupil  reminded  him — a  bit  of  thoughtfulness  that  pupils  are 
not  given  to  obtruding  upon  a  teacher — and  the  best  of  it  to  the  boys  was  that  if  he 
did  unexpectedly  come  out  of  his  reverie,  he  rarely  remarked  anything  wrong  in 
the  disorder  which  could  not  possibly  have  escaped  his  eye,  if  it  di'd  his  mind.  He 
might  have  sat  for  Dickens's  delineation  of  the  old  schoolmaster  in  the  "Curiosity 
Shop."  He  subsequently  removed  with  his  brother,  a  stone  mason,  to  Arkansas  and 
was  never  heard  of  here  afterwards. 

On  May  29th  a  convention  of  the  editors  of  the  State  was  held  in  the  town,  in 
the  council  chamber,  and  the  attendance  evinced  considerable  interest  in  the  busi- 
nes's  among  the  fraternity;  more,  at  all  events,  than  can  be  created  now.  There  were 
twenty  present,  a  larger  proportion  than  has  ever  been  collected  since.  Fifty-two 
papers  were  then  published  in  the  State,  and  no  editorial  convention  in  the  past 
thirty  years  has  had  so  nearly  one-half  of  the  whole  "press  gang"  as  it.  John 
Douglass,  the  proprietor  of  the  Journal  was  President,  and  John  Dowling  of  the 
Terre  Haute  paper,  the  Secretary.  A  constitution  and  rules  were  adopted,  of 
course,  and  never  thought  of  again,  and  rates  of  advertising  agreed  upon  and  nev- 
er adhered  to,  as  has  been  the  case  ever  since. 

The  National  road  was  now  in  course  of  being  "metaled  "  or  covered  with  the 
broken  stones  of  the  "Me Adam"  plan  of  road  making,  through  the  town,  and  in 
June  the  trustees  were  urged  t*  improve  the  sidewalks  too.  Something  was  done 
in  this  direction  and  a  fre.-h  advance  made  to  something  like  municipal  street  pro- 
priety. The  sidewalks, were  first  made  fifteen  feet  wide  on  Washington  street  and 
ten  on  the  others.  Afterwards  the  former  were  made  twenty  feet — to  the  intense 
disgust  of  the  property  owners  who  had  to  pay  for  the  extra  work— and  the  latter 


REORGANIZATION  OF  TOWN  GOVERNMENT.  gg 

twelve  feet.  Since  then  the  sidewalks  of  ninety  feet  streets  have  been  widened  to 
fifteen  feet,  making  the  clear  roadway  sixty  feet.  A  hail  storm  of  remarkable  se- 
verity, both  for  duration  and  the  size  of  the  hail  atones,  occurred  on  the  6th  day  of 
June,  and  broke  all  the  glass  in  tho  town,  nearly.  The  Ladies'  Missionary  Society 
held  a  fair — the  first  ever  attempted  in  the  town — -to  raise  money  for  their  especial 
purpose,on  New  Year's  Eve,  in  the  Governor's  Circle  building,  and  obtained  $230, 
quite  equal  to  a  contribution  of  $2,000  now. 

Early  in  1838  the  town  government  was  re-organized  by  an  act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture of  February  17th,  made  more  effective,  and  extended  over  the  whole  donation 
for  all  purposes  but  that  of  taxation.  Only  property  within  the  limits  of  the  ori- 
ginal plat  could  be  taxed.  Six  Wards  were  formed,  instead  of  five,  and  were 
divided  by  Alabama,  Pennsylvania,  Meridian,  Illinois  and  Mississippi  streets.  Each 
ward  elected  a  Trustee  for  one  year,  and  a  President  of  the  body  was  elected  by  a 
general  vote.  His  position  corresponded  so  closely  to  that  of  Mayor, — though  his 
duties  did  not, — 'that  he  was  generally  called  by  that  title.  The  Trustees  were  re- 
quired to  be  free-holders;  four  were  made  a  quorum,  and  they  were  to  be  paid  $12 
a  year  for  one  meeting  a  month.  They  were  authorized  to  enact  all  necessary  ordi- 
nances, improve  streets,  borrow  money,  license  liquor  shops,  shows  and  theatres, 
maintain  afire  department,  regulate  markets,  and  levy  taxes,  not  to  exceed  one-half 
of  one  per  cent.,  nor  upon  territory  outside  of  the  original  plat.  The  President  had 
the  authority  and  jurisdiction  of  a  Justice,  in  addition  to  his  purely  municipal  au- 
thority, and  the  Marshal  had  the  authority  of  a  Constable.  The  Secretary,  Treas- 
urer, Collector,  Marshal,  Supervisor,  Market  Master,  Lister  and  Assessor,  were  all 
elected  by  the  Council.  The  town  government,  thus  changed,  became  more  efficient, 
and  prepared  the  way  for  a  regular  city  government.  On  the  last  Saturday  of 
March,  1838  the  first  election  of  the  "new  dispensation"  was  held,  ,and  Judge 
James  Morrison, — one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  and  most  estimable  men  the  city  has 
ever  had, — was  elected  the  first  President.  Ordinances  were  at  once  passed  to  se- 
cure quiet,  order  and  safety.  The  town  was-full  of  the  ''hands'1  employed  on  the 
canal  and  on  the  National  Road,  and  the  most  rigorous  government  possible  would 
not  be  likely  to  do  more  than  was  needed.  It  was,  ia  fact,  a.  town  for  a  despotism. 
The  Irish  on  the  canal  were  frequently  embroiled  in  faction  fights ;  and  on  one  oc- 
casion in  this  year,  the  war  assumed  the  proportions  of  a  battle,  all  the  hands  on 
the  "sections"  adjoining  the  town  hurrying  from  both  directions  to  the  scene,  and 
"  falling  in  "  with  their  respective  preferences,  "  Corkonians ':  or  "  Fardowns,"  till 
some  three  or  four  hundred  were  engaged.  Tho  '.chain  gang"  was  busy  and  mis- 
chievous, and  the  whole  community  greatly  unsettled. 

The  "sickly  season"  this  year,  was  unusually  fatal.  From  the  first  visitation  of 
1821,  till  within  the  last  twenty  years,  that  season, — extending  from  about  the  mid- 
dle of  July  to  the  middle  of  September,  or  to  the  first  frost  of  fall, — was  a  regular  and 
dreaded  visitant.  This  year,  the  large  aggregation  of  ill-fed,  ill-housed,  disorderly 
and  dirty  men,  doubly  subject  to  the  malarious  diseases  of  the  locality,  spread  the 
epidemic  wider,  retained  it  longer,  and  made  it  more  fatal  than  it  might  otherwise 
have  been. 

In  the  very  beginning  of  the  year,  a  Mr.  John  Wood,  who  was  doing  a  banking 
business  in  the  room  of  the  old  Branch  Bank,  on  Washington  street,  established  a 
"Steam  Foundry,"  in  connection  with  Mr.  Underbill,  a  Quaker,  on  Pennsylvania 
street,  north  of  the  University  square.  It  was  kept  in  operation  for  many  years, 
and  was  really  the  pioneer  of  the  iron  business  in  the  city.  Benjamin  Orr  opened 
the  first  ready-made  clothing,  or  "slop  shop,"  in  the  city,  during  the  year. 


g4  BOLLOWArS  IXDIANAPOLrS.  • 

Up  to  the  year  1839,  the  Governor  had  no  official  residence.  He  had  to  live  in 
his  own  house,  if  he  had  one,  or  rent  one,  if  he  hadn't.  Governor  Noble  resided  in 
his  own  mansion,  about  a  mile  east  of  the  town  plat,  during  his  two  terms,  and  died 
there.  Governor  Wallace  lived,  when  he  first  came  here,  in  a  two-story  frame 
house  near  the  west  bank  of  the  canal,  south  of  Washington  street.  On  the  13th  of 
February,  1839,  the  Legislature  ordered  the  State  officers  to  purchase  a  suitable  build- 
ing for  the  Governor's  house,  furnish  it,  and  keep  it  exclusively  for  an  Executive 
mansion.  They  accordingly  bought  a  large  two-story  brick  house,  erected  some 
three  years  before,  on  the  north  west  corner  of  Market  and  Illinois  streets,  by  Dr. 
John  H.  Sanders,  and  at  that  time  the  handsomest  and  most  capacious  dwelling 
house  in  the  town.  It  had  the  whole  of  the  south  east  quarter  of  the  square  for  its 
grounds, —  three  lots, —  and,  being  within  a  square  and  a  half  of  the  State  House, 
was  as  convenient  as  it  was  capacious  and  comfortable.  It  was  first  occupied  by 
Governor  Wallace,  in  1839,  and  successively  by  Governors  Bigger,  Whitcomb, 
Dunning,  (Lieutenant  Governor,  succeeding  on  Whitcomb's  election  to  the  United 
State's  Senate),  Wright,  Willard  and  Morton.  But,  as  the  street  grades  were  fixed 
and  side  walks  made,  it  was  found  that  the  house  was  so  far  below  the  line  of  drain- 
age, that  in  rainy  "weather  it  was  surrounded  with  quite  a  pond  of  water,  which  kept 
the  walls  damp,  moulded  the  paper,  spoiled  provisions,  and  created  constant  sick, 
ness.  Governor  Whitcomb's  wife  died  there;  so  did  the  first  and  second  wives  of 
Governor  Wright.  Governor  Willard's  family  was  constantly  afflicted,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morton's  suffered  so  severely  and  unremittingly  that  he  resolved  to  abandon 
it,  whether  the  Legislature  made  any  other  provision  for  a  residence  or  not.  He  left 
it,  and  took  rooms  at  the  Bates  House,  in  1864;  and  the  Legislature,  at  the  session 
of  1865,  ordered  it  and  the  entire  grounds  to  be  sold.  They  were  disposed  of  in 
small  lots,  at  a  good  price,  and  furnished  the  money  to  build  the  State  Offices  on  the 
site  of  the  old  Treasurer's  Office,  south  west  corner  of  Tennessee  and  Washington 
streets.  The  Illinois  street  front  of  the  ground  is  now  filled  with  a  block  of  hand- 
some business  houses.  At  the  tinv3  the  Executive  residence  was  ordered  to  be  sold, 
the  Legislature  appropriated  §5,000  per  annum  as  a  provision  for  rent  and  house- 
hold expenses;  but  intended,  also,  to  make  a  nece-sary  addition  to  the  Governor's 
salary,  which,  during  the  great  depreciation  of  the  currency,  was  quite  inadequate. 
The  Constitution  forbids  any  increase  of  a  State  Officer's  salary  during  the  term  for 
•which  he  is  elected ;  and  the  only  way  that  the  imperative  addition  to  that  of  the 
Governor  could  be  made,  was  by  this  appropriation  for  house  rent.  There  has  been 
several  attempts  made  to  build  another  State  mansion,  on  some  of  the  State's  unoc- 
cupied lots,  or  to  buy  a  suitable  residence  already  built;  but  so  far  nothing  has  been 
done  in  this  direction.  Doubtless  a  new  house  will  be  provided  before  long. 

In  March  the  second  election  under  the  new  municipal  "  dispensation "  was 
held,  and  Judge  Morrison  declining  to  be  a  candidate,  Nathan  B.  Palmer,  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  respectable  citizens,  and  formerly  Treasurer  of  State,  was 
chosen.  The  total  vote  was  324,  indicating  a  population  of  about  2,000.  The 
town  government  was  not  much  of  an  affair  in  those  days,  in  any  respect.  It  had 
no  police  force,  left  its  ordinances  but  indifferently  enforced,  and  made  but  few 
street  improvements.  Indeed  it  had  little  to  do  anything  with,  for  it  was  not 
allowed  to  tax  over  fifty  cents  on  the  hundred  dollars,  and  that  was  confined  to  the 
original  plat,  and  there  were  neither  manufactures  nor  mercantile  business  of  value 
enough  to  pay  any  considerable  revenue.  For  the  year  ending  March  27th  the 
receipts  were  $7,012  the  expenses  $6,874,  more  than  half  of  which  went  for  the 
erection  of  the  West,  and  the  extension  of  the  East,  Market  house,  by  Elder,  Colstock 


COW  PASTURES— SWIMMING  HOLES.  Qfr 

&  Co.  Something  was  paid  for  the  repair  of  the  public  wells,  and  $145  went  for 
grading  and  graveling  streets — a  sum  that  shows  clearly  enough  how  little  was 
then  thought  of  a  work  which,  sooner  or  later,  always  makes  the  big  item  in  city 
expenses.  Printing  cos'  $58,  and  Michael  Shea  was  paid  $443  dollars  for  clearing 
and  fencing  the  "old  grave  yard,"  at  that  time  the  only  burial  place  of  tke  town. 
Portions  of  it  were  long  little  better  than  a  wild  forest,  and  many  graves  were 
irrecoverably  lost  during  that  period  of  neglect.  Among  others  that  of  Alexander 
Ralston,  the  surveyor  who  "laid  out"  the  town  plat,  has  disappeared  utterly,  and 
it  ought  to  have  been  preserved,  and  some  monument  by  the  city  erected  upon  it. 
The  town  council,  this  year,  also  ordered  all  the  streets  to  be  opened.  Several  of 
them  were  still  fenced  up,  and  the  ground  plowed  over  and  planted  as  regularly  as 
any  other  part  of  the  enclosure. 

Cow  pastures  formed  no  inconspicuous  feature  of  the  town  at  this  time,  and 
for  many  a  year  after.  Quite  a  number  of  squares  in  all  quarters  were  fenced,  and 
filled  with  milch  cows,  driven  out  by  the  boys  in  the  morning  and  back  again  at 
night.  "  Going  after  the  cows"  was  as  much  a  regular  duty  of  the  sons  then,  ag 
attending  base  ball  clubs  or  concert  saloons  is  now,  and  possibly  a  little  more  healthy 
and  improving.  "Sbeets's  pasture,"  composed  of  two  squares  between  Georgia  and 
South  and  Tennessee  and  Mississippi  streets,  was  about  the  last  of  these  relics  of 
primitive  fashions  that  disappeared  from  the  town  plat.  "Van  Blaricum's,"  sojfth 
of  South  street,  and  covering  the  site  of  the  Rolling  mill,  was  another,  and  ''Nor- 
wood's," now  densely  covered  with  residences,  bordered  the  "Bluff  road,"  since  turned, 
into  Illinois  street.  In  the  north  part  of  the  town  there  were  even  more — so  many 
that  it  would  be  hardly  profitable  to  recall  them.  Many  a  middle-aged  memory 
will  travel  back,  in  reading  these  lines,  to  the  pleasantest  days  they  can  recall, 
when,  barefooted,  and  with  "shinny-clubs"  or  ball  bats,  they  played  all  the  way 
to  the  "pasture"  and  back,  or  left  the  easy-natured  cows  to  saunter  home,  while 
they  ran  off"  for  a  swim  in  "  Noble's  hole,'1  or  "  Morris's  hole,"  in  the  creek,  or  at  the 
"old  snag,"  in  the  river. 

These  swimming  "holes"  were  so  important  an  element  of  the  social  economy 
that  it  is  clear  the  citizens  would  have  done  a  wise  thing  to  provide  them  at  any  rea- 
sonable expense,  if  nature  had  not  done  it-     They  filled  up  healthily  ihe  spare  hours  • 
of  summer  evenings,  and  the  opportunities  for  mischief  on  Saturdays.     They  kept 
the  most  inveterate  mud-sprawler  clean  in  person,  however  dirty  his  clothes  were, 
and  they  averted  many  a  mischievous  foray  upon  orch.irds  and  watermelon-patches-- 
that  would  have  been  bred  in  the  heads  that  could  not  get  to  the  water.     The  creek, 
was  the  favorite  resort  of  the  smaller  boys,  those  of  the  north  and  east  flocking  to- 
"  Noble's  hole,"  near  where  Market  street  bridge  is,  and  those  of  the  centre  and 
south  to  "  Morris  s  hole,"  about  where  the  creek  passes  out  of  the  culvert  under 
the  Union  depot.     Another  favorite  place  was  a  deep  "  elbow  "  near  the  Gas  Works. 
11  Noble's  hole  "  was  particularly  affected  for  the  advantage  given  its  frequenters  by 
a  stratum  of  blue  clay  in  the  bank,  which,  sloping  pretty  steeply  to  the  water, 
gave  the  boys  a  delightful  slide,  which  their  wet  bodies  made  as  slippery  as  greased 
glass.     An.  "otter  slide"  was  nothing  to  it.     The  facilities  for  impromptu  imitations 
of  Indian  war  paint  were  an  additional  attraction,  and  the  pasture  adjoining  the 
creek  might  be  seen  on  any  pleasant  evening  horribly  variegated  with  boys  spotted 
streaked,  barred  and  striped  in  all  directions,  running,  playing  "  leap-frog,"  and 
splashing  into  the  water  from  the  steep  bank  as  recklessly  as  St.  Patrick's  frogs. 
The  larger  boys  and  stronger  swimmers  went  to  the  river,  usually  either  to  the  foot 
of  Washington  street,  the  old  ferry  landing,  or  a  long  snag,  bending  in  an  arc  low 
(6) 


66  BOLLOWAT   INDIANAPOLIS. 

over  the  water,  about  where  Kingan's  po  k  house  stands.  The  latter  was  the  favor- 
ite place,  as  the  bank  was  covered  with  line  turf,  the  water  deep,  and  the  snag  a 
delightful  place  to  dive  from.  Very  often  a  visitor  might  see,  near  sundown,  a 
hundred  boys  at  once,  playing,  splashing,  diving,  ducking  each  other,  and  laughing 
around  that  snag,  with  as  joyous  an  indifference  to  the  fact  that  the  bottom  was  fifteen, 
feet  below  them,  and  that  drowning  was  possible,  as  if  they  had  been  porpoises  in 
a  tide-way.  But  fatal  accidents  did  occur  sometimes.  Dr.  Brown,  a  very  estima- 
ble and  promising  young  physician,  went  bathing  on  a  little  bar  running  down 
.into  the  deep  water  at  the  snag,  without  being  able  to  swim,  and  without  know- 
ing that  the  shallow  bar  made  a  sudden  "step  off."  The  water  was  thick  with 
boys  shouting  and  splashing  about,  and  when  the  Doctor  waded  off  the  bar  into 
drowning  water,  and  cried  for  help,  it  was  thought  he  was  only  "funning,"  as  a 
score  of  others  were  at  the  same  moment,  and  he  drowned  in  the  midst  of  a  crowd 
^any  one  of  whom  could  have  saved  him  as  easily  as  he  could  turn  his  hand  It 
was  a  very  sad  affair.  The  boys  and  young  men  built  fires  to  give  light  and  dived 
ifor  the  body  a  long  time,  but  uselessly.  It  was  found  the  next  morning,  by  John 
Morrison,  son  of  Judge  Morrison.  The  very  short  bend  in  the  river,  below  the 
Vincennes  Railroad  bridge,  was,  in  those  days,  "in  the  woods."  The  town  did  not 
^approach  near  it.  The  water  was  very  deep,  and  the  current  very  strong.  Fatal 
accidents  occurred  here  frequently.  The  usual  resort  for  recovering  drowned  bodies 
was  by  diving.  Among  those  always  pressed  into  this  disagreeable  and  dangerous 
service,  were  Kev.  Amos  Hanway  and  his  younger  brother,  Samuel,  now  well 
known  as  a  contractor  of  public  works.  Both  were  skillful  fishermen,  and  almost 
lived  on  and  in  the  river,  and  both  possessed  the  capacity  of  lungs  which  would 
have  made  them  a  fortune  at  the  Ceylon  pearl  banks.  Samuel  Hanway  has 
frequently  dived  from  the  east  to  the  west  side  of  the  river,  at  the  old-  ferry, 
when  the  river  was  wider  than  it  is  now.  The  brothers  never  refused  to 
come  at  call,  rarely  or  never  failed  to  recover  the  corpse,  if  the  current  had  not 
carried  it  clear  away,  and  did  their  inestimable  work  gratuitously,  generally,  if  not 
always.  These  incidents  are  not  important  parts  of  the  history  of  the  city,  cer- 
tainly, but  they  will  not  be  without  interest  to  those  who  care  to  know  something 
.more  of  its  early  life  than  the  records  of  its  government  and  business  changes. 

In  July  1839  the  ordinances  were  revised,  arranged,  and  published;  and  meas- 
ures were  taken  to  buy  another  fire  engine  in  the  fall.  Three  hundred  dollars  were 
appropriated  for  that  purpose,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  get  one  fur  $600,  if 
possible,  and  obtain  donations  to  make  up  that  amount. — The  first  sale  of  lots  for 
•delinquent  town  taxes  was  held  on  October  25th  at  Washington  Hall  by  James 
Van  Blaricum,  the  Marshal. — A  resurvey  of  the  donation  disclosed  the  fact  that  in 
-the  first  survey  a  mistake  had  been  made  which  included  eight  acres  that  belonged 
to  the  United  States.  The  lots  had  been  sold  in  1831,  aud  some  arrangement  had 
to  be  made  to  save  the  purchasers  from  loss.  The  Legislature  represented  the  case 
to  Congress,  and  Congress  donated  the  extra  eight  acres  and  saved  a  possible  "My- 
ra  Gaines  "  case. — In  November,  Mrs.  Britton,  the  wife  of  the  Episcopal  minister, 
opened  a  Female  Academy  near  University  Square,  and  made  it  quite  successful. 
It  subsquently  passed  into  the  hands  oi  Mrs.  Johnson  and  was  changed  to  the 
building  on  Meridian  street  near  the  Episcopal  church  and  called  "St.  Mary's  Sem- 
inary."— On  the  4th  of  November  Gov.  Wallace  issued  the  first  Proclamation  ap- 
pointing a  day  of  Thanksgiving.  He  fixed  the  28th,  and  the  Thursday  that  is,  or 
comes  nearest,  the  25th  of  that  month,  has  been  uniformly  fixed  :for  Thanksgiving 
day  ever  since. 


H.  W.  BEECHES— CENTRAL  CANAL. 


67 


The  Presbyterian  church  of  the  town  having,  in  May  of  the  year  before,  1838, 
followed  the  split  that  was  running  through  the  entire  denomination  in  the  United 
States,  starting,  as  all  church  divisions  did  then  and  for  long  afterwards,  from  sla- 
very, the  "New  School,"  consisting  of  fifteen  adherents,  formed  a  congregation  on 
the  19th  of  November  and  worshipped  in  the  lecture  room  of  the  County  Seminary., 
under  the  ministrations  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Johnson.  In  May  1839,  Rev.  Henry  Ward 
Beecher  was  invited  from  Lawrenceburgh,  where  he  had  his  first  congregation,  and 
took  the  pastorate  in  which  he  was  destined  to  lay  the  foundation  of  the  fame  he  has 
since  reared  so  high.  A  year  after  his  arrival  a  new  church  building  was  erected 
•  on  the  north  west  corner  of  Circle  and  Market  streets,  and  occupied  by  him  until 
he  removed  to  Brooklyn  in  1847,  and  by  his  successors,  as  will  be  elsewhere  noted, 
till  a  new  church  was  built  on  the  corner  of  Vermont  and  Pennsylvania  streets  at 
a  cost  of  $75,000,  and  the  old  one  enlarged  and  improved  and  converted  into  the 
City  High  School  in  1867. 

The  abandonment  of  the  public  works  this  year  (1839),  as  noticed  in  the  account 
of  the  adoption  of  thesystem  of  internal  improvements  by  the  State,  g>ive  the  prospects 
of  the  town  a  terrible  blow,  wh;ch  only  appeared  more  disastrous  as  time  devel- 
oped the  improbability  of  the  completion  and  availability  of  any  of  the  enterprises 
upon  which  so  much  really  depended,  and  so  much  more  was  speculatively  built.  The 
canal  was  the  only  one  that  had  reached  the  town,  and  as  it  was  really  in  g  od 
condition  "as  far  as  it  went,"  to  use  "Mr.  Nickleby's"  favorite  qualification,  some 
preparation  of  boats  had  been  made  for  the  trade  it  might  be  expected  to  develop. 
It  was  opened  from  the  feeder  dam  at  Broad  Ripple  June  27th,  1839,  by  an  excur- 
sion to  that  point.  The  section  above  to  Noblesrille,  and  that  below  to  Martins- 
ville,  were  so  far  advanced  that  a  comparatively  small  amount  of  money  and  labor 
could  have  made  a  complete  channel  of  water  communication  for  about  forty-five 
miles  through  the  center  of  the  State,  and  been  found  of  very  great  value  to  the 
people.  But  everything  was  left,  the  spade  in  the  dirt,  the  wheelbarrow  on  the 
plank,  where  the  news  of  the  State's  bankruptcy  overtook  it,  and  not  another  lick  has 
been  struck  from  that  day  to  this,  except  to  repair  the  breaks  and  preserve  the  wa- 
ter power  which  the  leases  made  obligator}'  upon  the  State  or  her  assigns.  All  the 
way  are  still  visible  the  marks  of  this  futile  improvement;  in  some  places  filled  up, 
in  some  overgrown  with  underbrush  and  trees,  in  others  still  clear  and  capable  of 
easy  conversion  to  use.  Below  the  town  about  three  miles,  the  bed  of  the  canal  was 
turned  into  a  country  race  course,  and  many  a  bet  was  lost  there  that  would,  but 
for  this  State  provision,  have  been  decided  on  the  town  course  on  West  street.  As  far 
down  as  "Pleasant  Run,"  where  the  canal  was  carried  over  that  stream  by  an  un- 
finished aqueduct,  the  water  was  kept  a  navigable  depth  for  some  years,  aird  ran  out 
into  that  creek  a  little  way  from  the  river,  and  made  it  a  choice  place  for  fisher- 
men. But  gradually  the  wooden  locks  south  of  the  town  decayed,  the  canal  through 
the  swamp  then  called  "Palmer's  Glade"  became  obstructed  with  weeds,  grass  and 
mud,  and  the  water  disappeared.  A  small  channel  was  then  dug  from  the  wooden 
locks  straight  across  to  the  river,  just  below  the  mouth  of  Pogue's  creek,  and 
through  that  the  water  is  discharged  now,  and  probably  will  continue  to  be  for  the 
next  generation.  It  was  in  this  little  stream  that  Mary  Hennerby  and  her  little 
companion  were  drowned,  or  thrown  after  being  murdered,  by  the  villains  who  out- 
raged the  elder,  in  June  1870. 

The  admission  of  the  water  into  the  canal  for  the  first  time,  in  the  spring  of  1839, 
was  the  occasion  of  a  general  jubilee,  not  among  the  adults, — who  already  began 
to  see  that  the  eight  finished  milea  were  all  we  were  likely  to  get,  —  but  among  the 


gg  HOLLOWAT8    INDIANAPOLIS. 

boys,  who  watched  its  coming  away  above  the  Fall  Creek  aqueduct,,  and  marched 
before  it,  as  it  slowly  crept  down,  filling  the  little  holes,  spreading  out  in  level  beds, 
and  purling  pleasantly  down  little  descent-,  till  it  began  to  rise  up  along  the  banks, 
and  its  yellow  tide  filled  the  bed  from  side  to  side  completely.  Not  much  traffic 
was  ever  carried  on  by  the  canal ;  but  a  good  deal  of  wood  came  down  it  occasion- 
ally, and  some  loads  of  grain  and  lumber  were  helped  here  by  it.  Its  chief  use  was 
as  a  huge  mill-race.  Aa  arm  had  been  dug  on  the  west  side,  near  the  line  of  Market 
street,  which  led  westward  about  nine  hundred  feet,  to  a  basin- entering  it  in  a  north 
and  south  direction,  at  a  declivity  that  gave  a  considerable  fall  and  available  power. 
At  the  north  end  of  this  basin  another  channel  led  off  to  the  west  and  south,  and 
formed  abasin  in  the  bed  of  one  of  the  old  "ravines,"  which  gave  ample  power  to  mills 
upon  the  river  bank  below, — thus  providing  power  upon  two  levels.  On  the  llth  of 
June,  the  State  leased  power  to  one  Woollen  Mill,  two  Cotton  Mills,  two  Paper  Mills 
an  Oil  mill,  and  two  Grist  and  two  Saw  mills, — an  addition  of  ten  mills,  and  a  business 
that  could  not  but  be  a  very  material  help  to-  the  town.  But  the  canal  was  not 
as  efficient  as  expected.  It  had  too  little  fa1!  for  a  "race,"  and  it  was  grievously  ob- 
structed by  an  annual  growth  of  grass,  which  was  only  imperfectly  cleared  out  at 
the  expense  of  some  money,  and  turning  off  the  water  for  a  week  or  two.  Mill- 
owners  were  dissatisfied,  and  refused  to  pay  their  rent.  Suits  were  defeated  by  evi- 
dence showing  constant  loss  from  the  failure  of  the  State  to  supply  water  according 
to  the  contract.  It  is  doubtful  if  the  rent  pail  in  the  ten  years  that  the  State  re- 
tained the  canal,  would  cover  the  costs  of  her  suits  against  the  lessees.  At  last,  on 
the  19th  day  of  January,  1850,  the  Legislature  ordered  the  canal  to  be  sold.  A  com- 
pany called  the  "Indiana  Central  Canal,  Hydraulic  Manufacturing  and  Water 
Works  Company,"  bought  it  in  October,  1851,  for  a  trifle,  from  Gould  &  Jackson 
who  bought  of  the  first  purchasers;  and  thr-y  retained  it  till  1859-,  giving  no  more 
satisfaction  to  lessees,  and  making  no  more  profit  out  of  it.  than  the  State  did.  In 
1859  a  company,  composed  chiefly  of  citizens  of  Rochester,  New  York,  bought  it, 
and  have  been  at  some  pains,  and  a  good  deal  of  expense,  to  keep  it  in  serviceable 
condition.  Several  new  mills  have  been  connected  with  it,  and  now  its  supply  of 
power  is  a  very  important  element  of  city  business,  though  most  of  the  mills  have 
provided  steam  machinery  to  supply  any  failure  of  water.  About  the  first  of  the  year 
1870,  the  City  Council  chartered  a  company  for  water  supply  and  fire  protection, 
which  is  now  actively  engaged  in  completing  its  preparations,  and  it  will  take  its 
forcing  power  from  the  canal.  Indeed,  it  is  now  pretty  evident  that  the  demand 
for  this  power  will  be  limited  only  by  its  capacity.  Mills  are  thickening  around  it, 
and  if  it  can  only  be  assured  of  a  constant  and  full  current,  it  will  be  lined  with 
machinery  wherever  a  sufficient  fall  can  be  found.  The  portion  below  the  stone 
lock,  on  Market  street,  will  hardly  be  kept  up  long.  It  is  a  nuisance  at  all  times; 
and  when  the  water  is  out  of  it,  it  is  a  pestilence.  This  year,  1870,  the  chills  and 
fever  have  infected  the  region  along  its  banks  so  generally,  that  an  "old  settler" 
might  be  reminded  of  the  great  epidemic  of  1821  and  the  cause  is  certainly  the 
empty,  feculent  bed  of  the  canal,  from  which  a  break  of  the  Fall  Creek  aqueduct  kept 
the  water  during  the  entire  summer  and  fall.  There  have  been  many  projects,  and 
some  serious  efforts  set  on  foot,  to  fill  up  this  lower  section,  and  restore  Missouri 
street  to  a  useful  condition  again  ;  but  nothing  has  come  of  them.  The  Company 
owns  it,  and  is  bound  by  leases  to  supply  the  old  Rolling  Mill  and  the  Grist  Mill 
tailed  "Underbill's,"  near  the  wooden  locks;  and  unless  these  obligations  can  be 
cancelled  or  compounded  for,  there  is  no  very  clear  legal  way  to  fill  it  up.  Some 
miles  north  of  the  town,  a  freahet  in  the  river,  many  yeare  ;  il  washid  off  a  long 


CANAL  KB  EARS—  MADISON  RAILROAD  QQ 

line  of  the  bank,  where  it  approaches  close  to  the  stream.  Breaks  below  have  been 
frequent.  In  1847,  during  the  heavy  freshets,  Fall  Creek  poured  over  into  the 
"swamp"  alluded  to  in  a  preceding  passage  of  this  Chapter,  and  sent  tremendous 
streams  down  the  old  "ravine"  beds,  flooding  many  houses,  and  emptying  a  vast 
volume  of  water  into  the  canal.  Pogue's  creek,  also,  rose  enormously,  and  banked 
up  against  the  mouth  of  the  culvert  under  ihe  canal,  threatening  to  tear  it  away. 
The  rising  water  in  the  canal  at  last  burst  the  bank,  just  below  the  site  of  the  old 
"Rolling  Mill,"  and  the  whole  flood  poured  down  into  the  creek,  swelling  its  torrent 
irresistibly,  and  in  five  minutes  the  culvert  was  torn  out.  This  double  disaster  left  the 
canal  empty  for  a  year.  The  culvert  has  since  been  two  or  three  times  torn  out  and 
replaced,  always  inadequately;  and  another  heavy  freshet  in  the  creek  will  repeat 
the  disaster  and  the  lesson,  with  the  same  effect,  probably.  So  much  feeling  was 
excited  against  the  canal,  by  the  frequent  destruction  of  the  creek  culvert,  that  some 
years  ago  an  attempt  was  made  by  a  mob  to  resist  the  effort  to  replace  it.  The 
Company  would  gladly  surrender  this  section,  if  they  could  be  released  from  their 
obligation  to  supply  water  to  the  two  mills  upon  it.  The  great  State  improvement 
has  thus  become  a  mere  mill-race,  so  far  as  it  possesses  any  value  at  all,  and  is  little 
better  than  a  mud-hole,  and  a  deposit  for  the  offal  of  slaughter  houses,  in  its  lower 
section. 

The  only  other  work  tending  towards  the  capital,  upon  which  so  much  labor 
had  been  put  as  to  make  it  of  any  use,  was  the  Madison  and  Indianapolis  Railroad- 
This  enterprise  was  signalized  by  a  monstrous  cutting  through  the  hills  at  Madison1 
called  the  "Deep  Diggings,"  where  most  of  the  money  given  it  by  the  State,  was 
wasted;  and  where  the  use  of  the  track  was  always  perilous,  and  often  fatal.  It 
was  completed  to  Vernon,  twenty  miles,  in  1839,  and  was  run  regularly  by  the  State's 
lessees,  D.  C.  Branham  &  Co.,  till  1843,  when  a  law  was  passed  by  the  Legislature, 
authorizing  its  sale  for  a  "song."  The  State  never  got  anything  worth  mentioning 
for  her  vast  outlay,  and  for  a  vast  deal  of  really  important  work  on  this  rugged  sec- 
tion of  the  road.  The  Company,  however,  made  a  "good  thing"  of  it.  They  com- 
pleted the  road  by  instalments, — first  to  Scipio,  then  to  Clifty  Creek,  then  to  Co- 
lumbus, then  to  Edinburg,  then  to  Greenwood,  and  finally, — in  October,  1847, — to 
Indianapolis.  And  then  it  "coined"  money.  No  road  in  any  State,  ever  paid  so 
well.  It  did  all  the  business  of  the  center  and  North  of  the  State,  with  the  East, 
South  and  West,  at  its  own  exorbitant  rates;  and,  mad  with  prosperity,  attempted 
enterprises  which,  in  connection  with  the  rivalry  of  the  Jeffersonville  and  Cincin- 
nati Railroads,  broke  it  down  so  utterly,  that  its  stock  sold  for  two  cents  on  the  dollar 
and  its  old  rival,  the  Jeffersonville  Company,  bought  it  as  a  feeder  for  the  upper 
end  of  its  own  line.  So  the  great  Internal  Improvement  system  "ran  out"  and 
disappeared. 


POLITICAL  EXCITEMENT,  DISPLAYS  AND  ORATORS — VISIT  OF  VICE  PRESIDENT  JOHN- 
SOX — CITY  QBADE  —  FIRST  ARTISTS — VISITS  OF  VAN  BURBN  AND  CLAY — JOCKEY 
CLUB  AND  RACE  COURSE — MESMERIC  EXCITEMENT — MILLERITE  EXCITEMENT — 
BEGINNING  OF  THE  ASYLUMS — THEATRE — NEW  GRAVE  YARD — VISIT  OF  GEN- 
ERAL CASS — THESPIAN  SOCIETY — MUHDER  OF  JOHN  TUCKER — IMPROVEMENTS  — 
MEXICAN  WAR — GAMBLERS. 

?HE  local  events  of  1840  were  unimportant,  or  so  largely  compounded  of  the 
political  excitement  of  the  great  "hard  cider"  and  "log  cabin"  campaign, 
that  is  impossible  to  eliminate  them.  From  the  time  of  General  Harrison's 
nomination  till  the  Presidential  election,  little  was  done  or  thought  of  but  a  change 
in  the  national  administration  and  policy,  which  would  restore  the  prosperity  bro- 
ken in  the  great  panic  of  1837.  Party  lines  were  rigorously  drawn  for  the  first 
time  since  the  town  was  founded,  and  campaign  papers,  speeches,  processions,  con- 
ventions, and  all  electioneering  arts,  since  so  widely  applied,  maintained  party  feel- 
ing at  fever  heat.  In  March  the  municipal  election  was  carried  by  the  Whigs,  in  a 
clear  party  contest,  indicating  the  result  in  the  greater  contest  still  to  come.  But 
the  Democrats  had  not  been  "unfaithful  stewards"  of  town  interests  by  any  means, 
and  were  washed  out  of  ofBce  by  the  national  tide  and  not  by  currents  of  local  hos- 
tility. They  had  collected  during  the  preceding  year,  to  March,  $5.975  and  ex- 
pended $4,753,  leaving  a  balance  for  the  use  of  their  successors.  The  market 
houses  received  $1,984  of  this  sum,  streets  and  bridges  $1.350,  the  fire  department 
$197,  salaries  $974,  and  incidentals  $244.  Two  fire  cisterns  were  ordered  by  the 
new  administration.  They  were  the  first  of  a  system  of  water  supply  which  has 
since  grown  to  be  a  very  important  department  of  the  city  government.  They  were 
of  three  hundred  barrels  capacity.  A  horticultural  society  was  organized,  August 
22d,  and  maintained  an  active  and  beneficial  existence  for  several  years,  under  the 
inspiration  of  Henry  Ward'  Beecher  and  other  devotees  of  good  taste  and  local 
improvement. 

The  "  Palmer  House'1  was  begun  this  year,  by  Nathan  B.  Palmer,  on  the  south- 
east corner  of  Illinois  and  Washington  streets,  and  completed  the  year  following, 
when  it  was  leased  and  opened  by  John  C.  Parker,  of  Charlestown,  Clarke  county. 
Its  site  had  formerly  been  occupied  by  the  blacksmith  shop  of  James  Van  Blari- 
cum,  which  was  removed  to  the  open  ground  on  Meridian  street,  south  of  Black- 
ford's  block.  A  large  cabinet  establishment  also  stood  on  or  near  its  site,  which  is 
memorable  for  a  fire  that  occurred  there  some  years  before,  which  was  kept  down 
and  prevented  from  proving  a  destructive  conflagration  by  showers  of  snow  balls  and 
armfuls  of  snow  gathered  up  and  thrown  upon  it  by  the  spectators.  The  "Palmer 
House"  was  at  first  a  two-story  and  a  half  building,  the  half  story  being  frame. 
As  the  ".Washington  Hall"  was  Whig  headquarters,  the  "  Palmer  House"  became 


POLITICAL   EXCITEMENT.  "7^ 

Democratic  headquarters,  and  has  remained  so  ever  sinca.  The  Whigs,  "People's 
Party"  and  Republicans  changed  theirs  to  the  Bates  Ho  use,  on  the  completion  of 
that  then  magnificent  edifice. 

As  before  remarked,  the  principal  events  of  the  year  were  of  a  political  char- 
acter. As  the  capital  and  central  point  of  the  State,  partisan  demonstrations  were 
frequent  in  Indianapolis,  and  not  unfrequently  the  occasion  of  serious  difficulties. 
The  Whigs,  especially,  exceeded  everything  ever  known  before  in  the  way  of  new 
and  attractive  features  in  their  displays  They  hauled  little  log  cabins  in  wagons, 
and  lengthened  their  processions  with  enormous  "dug-outs,"  arriving  by  some  species 
of  partisan  punning,  incomprehensible  in  rational  times,  at  the  conclusion  that  the 
battle  of  Tippecanoe,  which  was  fought  on  a  prairie  and  a  bluff,  was  fitly  symbol* 
ized  by  a  "  canoe."  Barrels  of  cider  were  conspicuous  also,  and  quite  as  appro- 
priate. Mixed  with  whisky  at  times,  they  added  a  good  deal  to  tho  excitement  of 
the  occasion,  if  they  did  nothing  else.  A  cabin  of  buckeye  logs  was  built  on  the 
site  of  the  Bates  House,  and  kept  constantly  provided  with  cider.  Pictures  of  rude 
backwoods  huts,  with  "puncheon"  doors,  and  latch-strings  conspicuously  long  and 
loose  hanging  outside,  were  the  favorite  thing  for  banners.-  Campaign  songs, 
usually  set  to  some  negro  air,  for  the  first  time  became  a  prominent  electioneer- 
ing appliance.  Choirs  of  vocalists,  composed  of  ladies  as  well  as  gentlemen, 
usually  did  this,  the  most  pleasing  portion  of  the  campaign  work.  A  gooi  singer 
was  frequently  interlarded  between  the  orators  at  conventions,  and  the  whole 
length  of  enormous  processions  was  sometimes  vocal  with  musical  inquiries  as  to 
"What  has  caused  this  great  commotion,  motion,  motion,  the  country  through?" 
and  the  answer,  "It  is  the  ball  a  rolling  on,  for  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too,  With  them 
we'll  beat  little  Van."  Assurances  that  "  Van,  Van  is  a  used  up  man,"  were  always 
sure  of  "  brin  ging  down  the  house-"  Speeches  were  more  violent  and  inflammatory, 
and  with  far  less  provocation,  than  those  made  during  the  war  for  the  Union.  Cap- 
tain George  W.  Cutter,  since  widely  known  as  the  author  of  the  "Song  of  Steam  " 
and  "  Many  in  One" — the  latter  the  finest  and  most  original  patriotic  song  we  have — 
was  then  ayoung,  pock-marked,  fluent,  unstable  politician  and  poetaster,  representing 
Vigo  county  in  the  lower  branch  of  the  Legislature.  He  had  published  a  poem, 
now  forgotten,  called  "  Elskatawa,"  or  the  "  Moving  Fires,"  and  was  counted  by 
the  Whigs  as  one  of  their  ''coming  men."  He  made  a  speech  in  the  portico  of 
the  State  House,  in  which,  after  repeating  and  intensifying  all  the  stereotyped 
denunciations  of  the  Democrats,  he  excited  himself  to  such  a  pitch  of  animosity  that 
he  concluded  his  invective  in  a  hoarse  whisper — all  the  voice  his  violence  had  left 
him — while  the  foam  flew  from  his  lips,  with  the  delightful  sentiment:  "  D — n  the 
Locofocos !  "  It  tells  the  intensity  of  partis  in  feeling  prevailing  at  that  time,  far 
more  plainly  than  an  elaborate  description  could  do,  to  state  that  this  bit  of  stupid 
profanity  was  received  with  hearty  cheers  as  a  choice  effort  of  vituperative  elo- 
quence. Captain  Cutter  subsequently  married  Mrs.  Drake,  once  a  celebrated  actress, 
but  then  "falling  into  the  sere  and  yellow  leaf,"  and  quite  old  enough  to  have  been 
his  mother.  He  was  a  man  of  genius,  but  unbalanced  and  easily  led  astray.  He 
ruined  himself  by  dissipation,  after  many  efforts  to  reform,  and  died  a  few  years 
ago  in  or  near  Cincinnati. 

Quite  an  exciting  incident,  and  one  not  likely  to  be  soon  forgotten  by  its  cotem- 
poraries,  grew  out  of  a  monster  procession  during  the  winter  of  1840.  As  before 
remarked,  ladies  figured  quite  prominently  in  the  demonstrations  of  both  parties? 
but  chiefly  on  the  Whig  side.  In  the  procession  alluded  to,  a  gigantic  canoe  was 
pretty  well  filled  with  young  ladies  of  the  most  estimable  families  in  the  town,  and 


72  BOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

two  of  them,  at  the  rear  end  of  it,  attracted  especial  attention,  by  waving  a  flag,  or  a 
sword,  or  some  other  apparatus  symbolizing  General  Harrison's  services.  It  was  a 
trifle,  and,  in  the  general  enthusiasm  of  the  scene,  neither  a  solecism  in  manners,  nor 
a  trespass  on  womanly  propriety,  but  it  was  unusual,  and  a  Democratic  correspon- 
dent of  a  Terre  Haute  paper  made  an  allusion  to  it  that  fell  something  short  of 
courtesy,  if  not  decency.  A  brother  of  the  young  Iadie3  went  to  Terre  Haute 
and  got  the  name  of  the  writer,  and  came  back  prepared  to  administer  condign 
punishment  for  the  insult.  One  cold  morning,  when  the  pavements  were  icy  and 
slippery,  he  found  one  of  the  men  concerned  in  the  correspondence  in  Turners  bar- 
ber shop,  getting  shave3,  waited  for  him  to  come  out,  and  then  "pitched  into"  him 
and  caned  him,  all  hands  slipping  up  and  falling,  ungracefully  enough,  on  the  ice. 
The  names  need  not  be  told.  Those  who  remember  the  affair,  know  who  the  parties 
were.  Talk  of  duels  and  blood,  and  other  dangerous  results,  was  excited  by  the 
affair;  but  it  ended  with  the  "big  thing  on  ice,"  in  front  of  the  barber  shop. 

Two  men  were  prominent  among  the  Whigs  in  1840,  who  have  since  disap- 
peared, not  only  from  earth,  but  almost  from  the  memories  of  their  associates. 
Jonathan  McCarty,.  of  the  White  Water  region,  was  one;  and  he  had  few,  if  any, 
superiors,  on  the  "  stump,"  in  hard-hitting,  and  that  sort  of  plain,  direct  talk  that 
fires  level  with  the  heads  of  a  mixed  audience.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Iowa, 
and  was  a  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  first  State  election  held  there  in  the  fall  of 
1846.  His  political  record  was  net  clear  of  tergiversations;  and,  in  spite  of  his  abil- 
ties,  he  was  never  trusted  or  liked  by  the  Whigs,  though  he  served  one  session  in 
Congress,  on  one  side  or  the  other.  Joseph  Little  White,  of  Madison,  was  the 
other  of  this  pair.  He  was  much  such  a  man  as  the  more  celebrated  Sargeant  S. 
Prentiss,  a  born  orator,  to  whom  striking  phrases  and  impressive  illustrations 
came  as  spontaneously  as  flowers  come  to  an  apple  tree ;  and,  like  all  really  great 
orators,  with  a  strong  infusion  of  poetical  sensibility,  and  disposition  to  put  facts 
into  the  more  plastic  form  of  philosophy  and  generalizations.  His  figure  was  rather 
comical  than  otherwise,  short,  squat,  fat  and  waddling  ;  but  his  strong  features  and 
intellectual  head  considerably  impaired  the  comic  effect  of  his  body,  and  five 
minutes  of  his  speaking  took  it  all  away,  and  left  in  its  place  an  embodied  glow  of 
eloquence.  He  was  the  finest  extemporaneous  speaker  Indiana  ever  had.  In  the 
election  of  1840,  he  was  sent  to  Congress  from  the  Madison  district,  and  made  a 
mark  there,  which  nothing  but  the  speedy  overthrow  of  the  Whigs,  and  of  his  aspi- 
rations, prevented  from  being  placed  well  up  to  that  of  his  leader,  Clay.  He 
accompanied  Clay  in  the  latter's  visit  to  this  town  in  1842;  and  of  the  four  speeches 
on  that  occasion, — Clay's,  Crittenden's,  Gov.  Metcalf's,  of  Kentucky,  and  White's, — 
the  latter's  was  so  far  the  best,  that  the  others  were  hardly  thought  of  afterwards. 
He  removed  to  New  York  a  few  years  after  he  left  Congress,  and  was  prominent  in 
the  Van  Buren  campaign  of  1848,  on  the  "Free  Soil'1  side.  He  and  John  Van  Buren 
were  the  leading  champions  of  the  "Buffalo  Platform,"  and  were,  probably,  the  main 
cause  of  the  defeat  of  Cass  and  the  Democracy. 

Although  the  Whigs  surpassed  their  opponents  in  the  frequency  and  enthu- 
siasm of  their  demonstrations,  the  latter  made  vigorous  efforts  to  "keep  even."  On 
the  1 4th  of  October,  they  had  an  immense  meeting  in  a  Walnut  grove  where  the 
Blind  Asylum  now  stands,  and  were  addressed  by  Col.  Richard  M.  Johnson,  then 
the  Vice  President,  and  candidate  for  re-election.  He  was  the  first  great  officer  of 
the  Government  that  had  ever  visited  the  town,  and  his  coming  attracted  the  largest 
crowd  that  had  then  ever  been  collected  here.  The  National  road  was  crowded 
with  carriages  and  wagons,  and  the  fences  lined  with  spectators,  for  a  mile  or  two 


VISIT  OF  COL.  B.  SI.  JOHNSON— STREET  GRADES.  73 

out,  waiting  to  catch  the  first  glimpse  of  the  "man  who  killed  Tecnmseh."  His 
speech  was  a  very  wretched  affair,  and  disclosed  the  fact  that  the  Indian-killer  was 
not  a  man  of  much  ability.  He  moreover  had  the  bad  taste  to  speak,  in  a  boasting 
way,  of  his  "  five  wounds,"  and  to  chuckle  when  ho  s;tid  he  wrote  his  "  Sunday  Mail 
Report"  on  Sunday, —  as  if  the  violation  of  the  day  were  a  good  joke.  Col.  John- 
son's demonstration  did  not  help  the  Democrats  at  all.  They  needed  better  material 
than  a  warm-hearted,  fat  headed,  jolly,  hospitable  old  planter,  with  a  stronger  ten- 
dency to  miscellaneous  miscegenation  than  moral  example,  to  help  them  out,  of  the 
mire.  And  they  had  it  in  the  speaker  who  followed  Col.  Johnson,  Hon.  Tilghman 
A.  Howard.,  one  of  the  noblest  specimens  of  manhood,  physically  and  intellectually, 
that  ever  belonged  to  Indiana.  He  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Governor, 
having  resigned  a  seat  in  Congress  to  accept  the  nomination.  His  speech  was  admi- 
rable, and  contrasted  strikingly  with  the  mumbling  imbecility  of  the  Vice  President. 
He  was  our  first  Minister  to  the  young  Republic  of  Texas,  and  died  there.  If  he 
had  lived  to  this  day,  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  the  nation  ;  and 
quite  probably  have  been  President.  His  personal  presence  was  very  impressive. 
He  was  tall,  straight,  athletic,  graceful  in  carriage,  striking  in  features  and  expres- 
sion, dark  almost  as  an  Indian,  with  the  aquiline  nose  that  traditionally  belongs  to 
men  of  achievments;  long,  straight,  black  hair,  and  a  smile  indicative  of  unusual 
amiability  and  tenderness.  He  was  the  idol  of  his  party,  and  deservedly  so.  He 
was  as  powerful  a  man  as  Douglas,  with  none  of  the  letter's  moral  offsets  against 
intellectual  advantages. 

The  vote  at  the  Presidential  elf  ction  embraced  as  nearly  every  poll  in  the  town 
as  it  was  possible  to  obtain.  The  Township, — mainly  composed  of  the  town, —  gave 
1,387  votes,  of  which  Harrison  had  872,  and  Van  Buren  515.  The  annual  Metho- 
dist Conference  met  here  in  October,  and  was  presided  over  by  Rev.  Bishop  Soule. 

In  March,  of  1841,  the  town  authorities  procured  Mr.  James  Wood,  a  Scotch 
surveyor,  to  make  a  plat  of  street  grades  and  drainage,  which  was  approved  in  1842 
by  the  Council,  and  wuich  has  since  been  followed  with  more  zeal  than  benefit.  It 
preceded  upon  the  assumption  that  the  whole  town  must  be  drained  off  at  the  south 
west  corner,  into  the  ereek  or  river;  and  accordingly  made  it  an  inclined  plane, 
tilted  up  by  high  grades  at  one  end,  and  sloped  oft'  at  the  other.  The  effect  has  been 
to  make  the  upper  end  of  some  of  the  streets  pretty  nearly  as  high  as  the  fences, 
and  t<>  turn  the  lots  into  permanent  puddles.  It  has  doubled  the  cost  of  street  im- 
provements, besides  incidentally  damaging  city  lots  to  an  enormous  amount.  The 
only  thing  that  can  be  said  for  it  is,  that  the  making  of  it  and  the  "profile,"  only 
cost  $300. 

The  death  of  General  Harrison,  within  the  first  month  of  his  administration, 
excited  here,  as  every  where,  a  great  deal  of  feeling.  A  funeral  celebration  took 
place  on  the  17th  of  April,  at  which  addresses  were  delivered  by  Governor  Samuel 
Bigger  and  Rev.  H.  W.  Beecher,  and  all  places  of  business  were  closed.  The  14th 
of  May  was  kept  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving  and  prayer. 

The  "hard  times"  bore  hardest  along  through  the  years  1840,  '41  and  '42;  and 
though  some  improvements  were  made,  the  general  condition  of  the  town  was  one 
of  depression  and  inactivity.  The  resumption  of  specie  payments  by  the  State  Bank 
June  16th,  1842,  made  no  material  change.  Everybody  put  off  enterprise  till  the 
"times  got  better."  "  The  grass-hopper  became  a  burden  ;  "  for  though  the  muni- 
cipal expenses  of  1842  were  but  little  more  than  half  of  those  of  1839,  an  effort  was 
made  in  '42  to  abolish  the  town  government,  on  account  of  its  cost.  The  receipts 
of  1841  were  but  $3,197,  against  $5,975  two  years  before;  the  expenses  $2,975 


74  HOLLOW  AY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

against  $4,753, — salaries  $767,  against  $974.  The  municipal  salaries  were  certainly 
moderate, — the  Council  getting  $12  a  year,  the  Secretary  $200,  the  Treasurer  $100, 
the  Marshal  $100,  Supervisor  $200,  Collector  $200,  Assessor  $75,  Market  Master 
§140,  Fire  Messenger  $100.  But  light  expenses  are  heavy  to  men  who  have  no 
money,  and  who  owe  more  than  they  believe  they  can  ever  pay;  and  a  tax  of  25  or 
30  cents  on  the  $100,  was  a  serious  matter.  The  town  government,  however,  was 
not  abolished. 

What  newspapers  call  a  "sensation."  was  produced  on  the  25th  of  April,  1842, 
by  the  attempt  of  a  German,  named  Frederick  Smith,  to  kill  himself.  He  was  keep-' 
ing  a  grocery  and  beer  shop  in  a  little  frame  building  on  Washington  street,  near 
Delaware,  and  appeared  to  be  doing  well.  But  his  life  was  troubled  by  some  haunt- 
ing horror,  which  he  tried  to  tell  by  writing  it  with  a  piece  of  chalk  on  the  open  lid 
of  his  desk,  but  so  unintelligibly,  that  all  that  could  be  made  of  it  was  that  somebody 
"envied  him  his  bread,"  and  be  resolved  to  rid  himself  of  it  by  suicide.  He  blew 
himself  up  with  a  liberal  portion  of  a  keg  of  powder;  but  the  explosion  was  chiefly 
spent  upon  the  building,  which  was  made  a  terrible  wreck,  leaving  him  blackened 
and  senseless,  but  living,  in  the  midst  of  it.  He  recovered,  after  a  time,  both  his 
health  and  his  senses. 

T.  W.  Whitridge,  since  quite  widely  known  as  an  artist,  opened  a  Daguerreian 
establishment  here  in  the  summer  of  1842,  but  soon  gave  it  up  to  others,  and  devoted 
himself  to  painting.  Henry  Ward  Beecher  was  a  frequent  visitor  at  his  studio,  and 
has  several  of  his  pictures  in  bis  house  in  Brooklyn.  Before  Mr.  Whitridge  came, 
a  Mr.  Brown  had  made  an  attempt  to  establish  himself  here  as  a  portrait  painter, 
but  with  little  success.  William  Miller,  the  miniature  painter,  also  came  here  about 
this  time,  and  made  his  home  with  Dr.  G.  W.  Mears.  His  success  could  not  have 
been  great;  but  still  the  associations  formed  here,  brought  him  back  for  a  few  days 
every  year,  for  several  years.  Joseph  Eaton  made  the  commencement  of  his  artist 
life  here,  during  that  period,  in  a  little  room  over  Dr.  Pope's  drug  store,  near  where 
George  F.  Meyers'  cigar  store  now  stands.  Some  of  his  pictures  attracted  a  great  deal 
of  attention ;  but  procured  him  more  prophecies  of  success  than  patronage  to  assure 
it,  and  he  removed  to  Cincinnati,  where  his  fame  and  fortune  grew  large  enongh  to 
bear  transplanting  in  New  York.  Mr.  Jacob  Cox,  a  citizen  and  most  estimable  gen- 
tleman, was  also  working  at  portrait  painting  at  such  leisure  moments  as  he  could 
obtain  from  the  stove  and  tin-ware  business;  and  with  such  success,  that  he  unques- 
tionably holds  the  first  place  among  Indiana  artists,  and  an  enviable  one  among 
those  of  the  whole  Union.  His  pictures,  particularly  his  landscapes, — -'compositions'' 
of  our  own  back-woods  scenery, — were  among  the  best  attractions  of  the  Cincinnati 
Art  Union  exhibitions,  during  their  continuance.  For  nearly  twenty  years  he  has 
devoted  himself  exclusively  to  his  art,  and  makes  it  amply  remunerative. 

On  the  llth  of  June,  President  Van  Buren  visited  the  town,  on  a  Western  tour, 
and  was  received  with  as  much  honor  as  if  he  hadn't  been  ridiculed  and  denounced 
in  every  form  of  vituperation,  from  stump  speech  to  doggerel  songs.  A  procession 
of  four  military  companies,  the  fire  companies,  and  citizens  generally,  met  him  east 
of  Pogue's  creek  bridge,  and  accompanied  him  to  the  Palmer  House,  where  he  made 
a  pleasant  little  speech  from  the  carriage,  in  reply  to  a  formal  welcome  from  Gov. 
Bigger.  In  the  evening,  he  had  a  "reception  "  at  the  Slate  House,  and  the  next 
day,  (Sunday,)  attended  church,  once  at  Wesley  Chapel  and  once  at  Mr.  Beecher s 
church.  He  left  on  Monday,  by  the  stage,  for  Terre  Haute,  and  was  upset  near 
Plainfield.  His  appearance,  and  the  general  courtesy  of  his  manners,  weakened  the 
dislike  created  by  the  Whig  songs  and  caricatures  for  the  "  Fox  of  Linden wald." 


HENRY  CLAY—  RACES—  MILLER  JSM.  175 

On  the  5th  of  the  following  October,  Henry  Clay  came.  He,  too,  was  making 
an  exploration  of  the  political  field;  and  be  made  it  to  such  purpose  as  to  secure 
the  next  Whig  nomination.  The  crowd  that  welcomed  him,  was  unprecedented- 
Nothing  approaching  it  bad  ever  been  seen  before,  and  not  many  since  have  sur- 
passed it.  Thirty  thousand  was  the  estimate  of  those  most  likely  not  to  exaggerate. 
The  procession  was  three  miles  long,  and  composed  of  all  the  military  and  fire  com- 
panies,—  the  trades,  with  appropriate  banners,  —  several  bands  of  music  from 
different  parts  of  the  State,  and  an  army  of  people,  from  all  directions.  Mr.  Clay 
was  accompanied  by  John  J.  Crittenden,  Gov.  Thomas  Metcalfe,  Joseph  L,  White, 
and  several  others,  and  was  entertained  by  Governor  Noble,  at  his  mansion  east  of 
town.  The  crowd  enjoyed  itself  with  a  barbecue  of  "barbaric  profusion  "  and  in- 
different cooking,  in  a  beautiful  grove  of  Governor  Noble's,  east  of  his  house.  Here 
two  or  three  stands  were  erected  for  speakers.  Mr.  Clay  spoke  from  the  main  one, 
first  of  all,  and  for  about  an  hour,  but  in  no  fashion  to  indicate  his  great  oratorical 
powers.  His  speech  was  thoroughly  partisan  all  the  way  through,  and  a  little  ego- 
tistical at  times,  as  in  his  allusion  to  the  "  CLiy  men  "  under  Jonathan  Roberts  in 
the  Philadelphia  Custom  House.  But  nobody  cared  as  much  for  the  speech,  as  for 
the  sight  of  the  man.  He  was  followed  on  the  various  stands  by  a  succession  of 
speeches,  as  alluded  to  in  the  notice  of  J.  L.  White,  and  the  afternoon  was  pretty 
much  consumed  in  oratory.  The  next  day  was  devoted  to  a  military  review  and 
parade,  nnd  the  night  to  fire  works,  and  the  third  to  attending  the  Agricultural  Fair 
and  the  races. 

Although  the  "quarter  races"  on  West  street  were  still  kept  up,  they  afforded 
very  indifferent  amusement  to  the  cultivated  gambler  and  jockey,  and  an  attempt 
was  made  to  establish  a  regular  course,  supported  by  a  jocky-club,  here.  It  didn't 
succeed ;  for  there  was  not  then, — probably  is  not  now, — the  sort  of  spirit  prevalent 
among  the  people,  which  makes  gambling  fashionable,  or  even  tolerable :  but  it  came 
nearer  success  than  any  similar  effort  has  done  since,  and  for  one  or  two  seasons 
really  attracted  racers  of  reputation  from  distant  States.  The  course  was  located  in 
a  field  belonging  to  David  Van  Blaricum,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  near  the 
Crawfordsville  road,  and  was  a  mile  in  circuit.  Several  "three  mile"  races  were 
run  here  during  the  time  of  Mr.  Clay's  visit, — one  between  "  Bertraud"  and  "Little 
Eed  ;  "  but  no  "four  mile"  heats  were  attempted.  Racing  has  now  degenerated  into 
a  "moral"  attraction  of  State  Fairs. 

During  the  fall  of  1842,  a  Mr.  Keeley  lectured  in  the  Court  House  on  Mesmerism, 
and  excited  a  great  deal  of  curiosity,  and  no  little  credence,  by  exhibiting  the  clair- 
voyant powers  of  his  subjects.  He  held  daily  levees  in  one  of  the  upper  rooms  of  the 
Court  House,  where  he  professed  to  cure  some  diseases  of  a  chronic  or  constitutional 
character,  and  to  relieve  all.  He  had  no  lack  of  patients,  and  made  money.  He 
was  followed  by  others,  and  several  home-made  mesmerists  began  experimenting; 
and  among  them  they  created  an  excitement  about  diabolical  influences,  that  pre- 
pared the  way  easily  enough,  for  the  Millerite  fancy  of  the  succeeding  winter.  Two 
boys  by  the  name  of  Beck,  became  quite  notorious  for  their  facility  of  handling  in 
the  mesmeric  sleep,  and  the  pleasure  they  took  in  having  pins  stuck  through  their 
fingers,  or  the  backs  of  their  hands  scarred  with  knife-cuts.  The  folly  lasted  for 
several  months. 

Along  with  the  "diablarie"  of  the  mesmerists,  came  the  Millerite  excitement. 
Of  its  general  history,  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  any  thing  here;  but  its  local  impor- 
tance forbids  a  dismissal  of  it  with  a  mere  allusion.  The  capital  shared  the  feeling 
of  tne  whole  country;  and  while  few  really  bolieved  the  prediction  of  the  world's 


7g  HOLLOWATTS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

destruction,  very  many  were  so  far  impressed  by  the  ingenious  interpretations  and 
combinations  of  scriptural  prophecies,  as  to  give  a  closer  heed  to  religious  sugges- 
tions of  a  more  important  character,  and  not  a  few  conversions  date  from  that  era. 
All  ihrough  the  winter  travelling  lecturers  and  preachers  visited  the  town,  swelling 
the  excitement,  and  the  circulation  of  the  "  Midnight  Cry,"  and  other  papers  devo- 
ted to  this  subject.  As  the  spring  approached,  the  feeling  deepened.  The  "  dies 
irte''  was  coming  close,  and  in  the  very  crisis  of  the  feeling,  a  Mr.  Stevens,  a  young, 
eloquent  and  thoroughly  informed  preacher,  eame  and  delivered  a  series  of  lectures 
in  different  churches  on  the  prophecies  rega- ding  the  second  coming  of  Christ.  The 
first  were  given  in  the  old  Christian  Church,  on  Kentucky  Avenue,  the  last  in  the 
Lutheran  Church,  on  Ohio  street,  near  Market.  The  effect  of  his  sermons  was  to 
nearly  obliterate  sectarian  distinctions  for  a  little  while.  All  denominations 
thronged  to  hear  him,  and  in  the  common  interest  in  the  catastrophe  he  elucidated, 
all  sank  their  special  interests  and  attachments.  The  lecturer  professed  no  adhe- 
sion to  any  particular  church,  joined  in  the  worship  and  communion  of  all  alike, 
and  was  as  readily  received  by  one  as  the  other.  Though  the  world  did  not  come  to 
an  end,  the  excitement  was  the  origin  of  a  great  and  general  religious  revival,  prob- 
ably unequalled  in  fervor  and  effect  by  any  that  have  followed  it.  The ,"  Second 
Advent"  alarm  died  out  utterly  in  a  little  while  after  the  fated  day  of  April  passedj 
notwithstanding  Mr.  Miller  fixed  several  other  appointments  for  it;  but  the  revival 
continued  even  more  effectively  after,  than  before.  Probably  natural  phenomena 
lent  some  force  to  the  appeals  of  religion.  The  winter  was  protracted  far  into  April, 
and  for  several  days,  when  in  ordinary  seasons  the  flowers  are  opening  and  fruit 
trees  budding,  the  ground  was  covered  with  a  heavy  snow,  upon  which  had  fallen  a 
hard,  d-ense  sleet,  which  froze  so  compactly,  that  the  boys  skated  all  over  the 
commons,  to  school,  and  upon  all  sorts  of  errands,  upon  it.  This  unusual  weather 
was  made  almost  horrible,  to  simple  apprehension,  by  the  accompanying  ter- 
terrors  of  the  comet,  one  of  the  la'gestever  witnessed  since  man  occupied  the  earth. 
Its  slightly  curved  train,  like  a  narrow,  white  cloud,  stretching  all  across  the  wes- 
tern sky  to  the  south  western  horizon,  was  a  nightly  spectacle  for  two  months. 

The  ''Second  Advent"  excitement  was  intensified  by  an  accident  into  a  ludierous 
incident  in  the  spring  of  1843.  Mr.  Stevens  had  delivered  at  the  Lutheran  church, 
a  very  impressive  lecture  on  the  signs  and  portents  that  should  accompany  the  end  of 
the  world,  and  his  vivid  descriptions,  heightend  by  the  flaming  comet  that  glared  in 
the  west,  produced  a  good  deal  of  audible  sobbing  among  the  women,  and  some  marks 
of  feeling  even  among  the  men.  The  audience  was  dismissed,  and  as  they  passed  the 
doors  they  saw  the  whole  western  sky  a  mass  of  red,  angry  looking  light,  which  could 
be  traced  to  no  origin,  and  seemed  spread  upon,  or  glowing  through,  the  thick  clouds — 
for  it  was  raining — and  filling  some  of  the  lecturer's  descriptions  with  alarming  accu- 
racy to  minds  preoccupied  with  that  very  horror.  There  were  some  suggestions  of 
fainting,  and  a  good  many  exclamations  of  pious  terror  or  resignation.  But  the  light 
disappeared  after  a  while,  and  was  found  next  morning  to  have  been  caused  by  the 
burning  of  some  hemp  or  fodder  stacks  near  "  Crowder's  farm."  The  position  of  the 
clouds,  as  is  frequently  the  case,  allowed  the  light  to  be  reflected  from  one  to  another 
till  the  dreadful  blaze  covered  the  whole  sky. 

In  February  of  this  year,  the  Washington  Hall  took  fire  in  the  third  story,  upon 
one  of  the  coldest  days  of  the  winter.  It  threatened  for  a  time  the  entire  destruction 
of  the  building,  for  water  had  to  be  passed  in  buckets  by  lines  of  citizens,  from  the 
well  at  the  corner  andthe  drug  store  where  Haskitt's  now  is,  and  the  intense  cold  made 
the  work  doubly  difficult,  and  the  supply  for  the  engines  very  inadequate.  But  water 


FOUNDING  OF  ASYLUMS. 


77 


and  mushy  ice  were  poured  on  till  the  lower  rooms  were  ankle  deep,  and  supplied 
the  workers  above  as  well  as  the  engines  below.  Everybody  worked,  and  everybody 
was  coated  with  ice.  Mr.  Beecher  was  one  of  the  foremost  in  carrying  the  hose-pipes 
right  into  the  burning  portion  of  the  house,  and,  after  two  hours  work,  came  out  a 
mass  of  soot  and  dirt  and  ice,  and  blood  from  his  cut  hands,  but  with  the  fire  subdued. 
The  loss  was  about  $4,000,  much  the  heaviest  that  the  town  had  ever  suffered. 

During  the  session  of  1842-43,  the  Legislature  took  the  first  effective  steps  to 
establish  a  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane.  As  early  as  1839  attention  had  been 
directed  to  the  subject,  but  the  State  was  in  no  very  good  condition  to  undertake  new 
enterprises,  and  an  appeal  was  made  to  Congress  for  a  grant.  Nothing  canae  of  it. 
.The  county  assessors  were  at  the  same  time  ordered  to  make  a  return  of  the  deaf  mutes 
in  their  respective  counties,  as  a  preliminary  step  to  a  provision  for  this  class  of  unfor- 
tunates. The  State's  financial  embarrassments  stopped  all  further  effort  in  either 
enterprise  for  some  years.  Early  in  1842  the  Governor  was  directed  to  procure  all 
possible  information  in  regard  to  the  subject  of  Hospitals  for  the  Insane  from  the 
States  that  had  them,  and  a  year  afterwards  Dr  John  Evans  lectured  before  the  Legis- 
lature on  the  subject  of  insanity  and  its  treatment.  The  result  of  the  two  efforts  was 
a  decision  to  "do  something"  at  once.  On  the  13th  of  February,  1843,  the  Governor 
was  directed  to  obtain  plans  and  suggestions  for  a  Hospital  from  the  Superintendents 
of  Hospitals  in  other  States,  for  submission  to  the  Legislature  at  the  next  session. 
This  put  the  enterprise  finally  in  motion.  At  the  next  session  plans  were  examined, 
a  mode  of  operations  determined,  and  a  tax  of  one  cent  on  the  hundred  dollars  levied 
to  carry  it  out.  On  the  13th  of  January,  1845,  Dr.  John  Evans,  Dr.  L.  Dunlap  and 
James  Blake  were  appointed  commissioners  to  obtain  a  site  containing  not  to  exceed 
two  hundred  acres.  They  selected  Mount  Jackson,  then  the  residence  of  Nathaniel 
Bolton,  formerly  editor  of  the  Indiana  Gazette.  He  and  his  wife,  the  gifted  "poetess 
of  Indiana,''  here  kept  a  country  tavern  for  several  years.  This  site,  with  a  plan  of 
building,  was  reported  to  the  Legislature  at  the  next  session,  and  approved,  and  the 
commissioners  ordered,  February  19th,  1846,  to  proceed  with  the  work.  They  were 
authorized  to  sell  Hospital  Square  No.  22 — alluded  to  in  a  preceding  chapter — and 
apply  its  proceeds  to  this  purpose,  and  an  additional  appropriation  of  $15,000  was  made. 
The  central  building  was  begun  in  1846,  and  finished  next  year  at  a  cost  of  $75,000. 
It  has  since  been  enlarged  by  wings,  and  still  other  wings  larger  than  the  main  build- 
ing, till  it  now  is  an  immense  structure,  supplied  by  its  own  water  works  from  Eagle 
Creek,  and  contains  the  population  of  a  very  respectable  country  town,  something 
over  five  hundred.  Its  entire  cost  has  been  about  half  a  million  of  dollars. 

At  the  same  time  that  the  Governor  was  directed  to  obtain  plans  from  insane 
hospitals,  February  13th,  1843,  a  tax  of  one-fifth  of  a  cent  on  the  hundred  dollars 
was  levied  to  provide  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb.  'The  first  work  in  this  direction  was 
done  by  William  Willard,  one  of  the  assistants  in  the  Asylum  now,  who  was  himself 
a  mute,  and  had  long  been  a  teacher  of  mutes  in  Ohio.  He  came  here  in  the  spring 
of  1843,  and  in  the  fall  opened  a  school  on  his  own  account  for  mutes,  with  an 
attendance  of  sixteen  pupils.  In  1844  the  Legislature  adopted  his  school  as  a  State 
institution,  and  appointed  a  Board  of  Trustees  for  it  consisting  of  the  Governor,  Treas- 
urer and  Secretary  of  State,  ex  ojficio,  and  Revs.  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  Phineas  D. 
Gurley,  L.  H.  Jameson,  Dr.  Dunlap,  Hon.  James  Morrison  and  Rev.  Matthew  Simpson. 
They  rented  the  large  two-story  frame  building,  then  recently  erected  by  Dr.  G.  W. 
Stipp,  on  the  south  east  corner  of  Illinois  and  Maryland  streets,  and  opened  the  first 
State  Asylum  there,  in  October,  1844.  A  site  for  a  permanent  building  was  selected  in 
January,  1846,  just  east  of  the  town,  consisting,  at  first,  of  thirty  acres,  but  after- 


78 


HOLLOW  ATS  INDIAKAPOLIS. 


wards  increased  by  a  hundred  more,  for  the  agricultural  instruction  of  the  pupils,  and 
a  building  begun  in  1849.  It  was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1850,  at  a  cost  of  $30,000. 
Meanwhile  the  school  was  removed  from  the  Stipp  house  to  the  Kinder  building,  on  the 
south  side  of  Washington  street,  near  Delaware,  where  it  remained  till  transferred  to 
its  own  building,  in  October,  1850.  This  structure  has  also  beea  greatly  enlarged 
since  its  erection. 

The  Blind  were  not  provided  for  at  the  same  time  that  their  fellow  sufferers  were. 
The  first  effort  on  their  behalf  was  instigated  and  directed  by  James  M.  Ray,  to  whom 
the  Indiana  Institute  for  the  Blind  is  more  indebted  than  it  is  to  any  other  man  liv- 
ing. By  his  efforts  William  H.  Churchman  was  brought  here  in  the  winter  of  1844-5. 
and  gave  one  or  two  exhibitions  in  Beecher's  church,  with  blind  pupils  from  the  Ken- 
tucky Asylum.  The  effect  was  so  good  that  the  Legislature,  for  whom  the  perform- 
ances were  mainly  intended,  and  who  attended  them  with  astonishing  unanimity  and 
interest,  decided  to  levy  a  tax  of  one-fifth  of  a  cent  on  the  hundred  dollars,  to  estab- 
lish a  Blind  Asylum.  James  M.  Ray,  George  W.  Mears  and  the  Secretary,  Treas- 
urer and  Auditor  of  State  were  made  commissioners  to  apply  the  fund,  either  to  the 
establishment  of  an  Asylum,  or  to  the  providing  for  our  Blind  at  the  Ohio  or  Ken- 
tucky Asylums.  They  set  Mr.  Churchman  to  lecturing  throughout  the  State  on  the 
subject,  and  gathering  statistics  of  our  blind  population.  On  the  27th  of  January, 
1847,  James  M.  Ray,  George  W.  Mears  and  Calvin  Fletcher — the  latter,  declining  to 
serve,  was  replaced  by  Seton  W.  Norris — were  appointed  to  erect  buildings  and  put 
the  institution  in  operation.  They  were  given  §5,000  to  pay  for  a  site  and  defray 
other  incidental  expenses,  and  they  purchased  two  blocks  north  of  North  street, 
between  Pennsylvania  and  Meridian,  and  began  the  building  in  1848.  While  it  was 
in  course  of  erection  the  school  was  opened  on  October  1st,  1847,  in  the  Stipp  house, 
where  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  school  had  recently  been  kept.  It  had  nine  pupils  at  first, 
but  increased  to  thirty  during  the  year.  In  September,  1848,  it  was  removed  to  the 
'building  now  used  as  a  work  shop,  on  its  own  ground.  The  Asylum  proper  was 
finished  in  1851,  at  a  cost  of  $50,000,  and  at  once  occupied.  A  notice  of  the  present 
condition  and  attendance  of  the  various  Asylums  will  be  made  in  the  proper  place. 

During  the  summer  of  1843,  a  Mr.  Robert  Parmlee  began  the  manufacture  of  pianos 
in  the  town,  in  a  shop  on  Washington  street,  a  little  west  of  Hubbard's  block.  It 
could  hardly  have  been  a  flourishing  business,  but  it  was  continued  for  two  years  or 
so,  chiefly  by  repairs  on  old  instruments.  In  the  fall  a  company  called  the  "  New 
York  Company  of  Comedians,"  gave  concerts  in  the  upper  room  of  Gaston's  carriage 
shop — on  the  site  of  the  Bates  House — and  concluded  each  entertainment  with  a 
theatrical  performance.  The  leading  actors  were  John  Powell  and  his  wife,  Tom 
Towuley,  who  did  the  dancing,  and  Sam  Lathrop.  Mrs.  Drake  and  Augustus  Adams 
appeared  as  stars  during  the  season,  'which  lasted  pretty  well  through  the  whole  ses- 
sion of  the  Legislature.  The  "theatre"  was  fronted  on  the  east  by  a  wide  platform, 
where  Mr.  Gaston  exposed  his  carriages  to  dry  when  varnished,  and  this  platform 
was  unprotected  by  any  railing  on  the  east  and  south  sides.  One  night  Mr.  Corbaley, 
one  of  the  settlers  of  1820,  coming  out  of  the  theatre  in  the  dark,  stepped  off  this 
platform  and  hurt  himself  so  severely  that  he  died  in  a  few  days.  Subsequently  Mrs. 
Drake  and  Mr.  Adams  played  here  when  the  theatre  was  ''fixed  up"  in  the  one-story 
brick,  where  Temperance  Hall  no\*  stands,  which  had  formerly  been  the  office  of  the 
Indiana  Democrat.  This  was  managed  by  Mr.  Lindsay,  who  had  conducted  several 
theatrical  seasons  before  this.  As  early  as  1836  or  1837,  he  had  opened  in  Ollaman's 
wagon  shop,  on  Washington  street,  opposite  the  Court  house,  and  delighted  the  Capi- 
talians  with  the  "universally  popular"  comie  songs  of  the  "Tongo  Islands,"  and  the 


NEW  GRAVE  YARD— THESPIAN  SOCIETY.  ^g 

"  King  of  the  Cannibal  Islands,"  and  had  been  back  once  before  the  New  York  troupe 
opened  in  the  carriage  shop.  These,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith's  previous  performan- 
ces in  Carter's  tavern  in  1823  and  1824,  comprised  the  theatrical  experience  of  the 
town  until  the  "Thespian  Corps,"  composed  of  our  own  young  men,  appeared  in 
1845. 

In  September,  1843,  Miss  Lesuer  opened  the  "  Indianapolis  Female  Collegiate 
Institute"  in  the  Circle  street  house  which  the  Franklin  Institute  had  formerly  occu- 
pied, and  maintained  it  successfully  for  some  years.  During  the  same  year,  the  Rob- 
ert's Chapel  (Methodist)  congregation  divided  from  the  parent  church,  Wesley  Chapel, 
and  began  the  erection  of  their  church  on  the  corner  of  Pennsylvania  and  Market 
streets,  which  was  completed  the  year  following,  at  a  cost  of  $10,000,  or  thereabout. 
The  old  building  was  sold  in  1868,  and  converted  into  a  block  of  business  houses, 
and  a  new  one  erected  on  the  corner  of  Delaware  and  Vermont  streets,  at  a  cost  of 
$80,000.  There  is  nothing  else  of  consequence  to  note  in  tho  year  1843. 

The  "old  grave  yard,"  though  capable  of  containing  all  the  dead  the  town 
would  be  likely  to  furnish  for  the  next  ten  years,  was  deemed  inadequate  in  1844, 
and  in  April  a  cemetery,  long  known  as  the  "New  Grave  yard,"  was  laid  out. 
The  old  one  at  that  time  was  in  the  woods.  A  dense  "bottom"  forest  lay  between  it 
and  the  river  on  the  south,  and  a  considerable  width  of  timber  separated  it  from  the 
river  on  the  west.  On  the  east  was  the  Mooresville  road  and  Dennis  I.  White's  pas- 
ture, with  an  open  woods  stretching  north  from  the  bluff  bank  of  the  "grave  yard 
pond."  The  new  addition  brought  the  living  town  closer  to  the  "dead"  one,  and 
very  soon  monopolized  the  burials.  Except  for  those  who  had  near  relatives  in  the 
old  grave  yard,  or  for  those  who  had  special  reasons  for  not  seeking,  or  not  being 
allowed,  participation  in  the  new  one — as  the  negroes — the  old  one  soon  became  almost 
obsolete.  North  of  the  new  cemetery  was  a  superb  forest  and  pasture  extending  to 
Maryland  street.  The  southern  portion  of  this  was  laid  off  into  a  third  cemetery  in 
1852,  extending  to  the  track  of  the  Indianapolis  and  Terre  Haute  Raiload,  by  Messrs. 
James  M.  Ray,  James  Blake  and  Edwin  J.  Peck.  Eight  years  later  the  ground  in. 
the  rear  of  this  last  addition,  bordered  by  the  river,  was  laid  out  into  a  cemetery, 
and  a  small  section  along  the  railway  was  bought  by  the  National  Government  for 
the  burial  of  dead  rebel  prisoners  in  1862.  This  last  addition  was  little  used,  and  the 
much  more  eligible  arrangement  of  the  Crown  Hill  Cemetery  superseded  it  entirely, 
so  that  within  the  present  year  (1870)  the  Terre  Haute  Railroad  Company  have  obtained 
a  release  of  the  Government  cemetery,  removed  all  the  corpses,  and  built  there  a  fine 
and  capacious  engine  house.  The  eastern  half  is  still  a  cemetery,  but  that  next  the 
river  is  returned  to  less  melancholy  uses.  The  "grave  yard  pond"  was  once  as  well 
known  a  feature  of  the  topography  of  the  capital  as  the  river  itself.  It  was  three  or 
four  hundred  yards  long  by  a  hundred  wide,  and  was  supplied  partly  by  springs, 
and  partly  by  freshets,  which  made  the  river  rise  and  run  through  it.  For  many 
years  it  was  a  favorite  skating  place,  and  was  afterwards  a  frog's  paradise.  Now  it 
has  utterly  disappeared.  All  the  dirt,  chips  and  refuse  and  nuisances  of  the  city  are 
emptied  into  its  bed,  and  the  new  Rolling  Mill  has  covered  the  upper  end  of  its  site 
with  one  of  its  buildings  and  its  railway  track. 

On  the  5th  of  August,  1844,  a  meeting  was  held  to  make  arrangements  for  the- 
visit  of  General  Cass,  who  came  on  the  25th, — spoke  in  the  Military  Ground,  in  reply 
to  a  welcome  from  Governor  Whitcomb, — had  a  reception  at  the  Palmer  House,  and 
went  on  to  Dayton  the  same  evening. 

The  year  following,  1845,  was  distinguished  by  the  culmination  of  the  only  native 
theatrical  company  the  capital  has  ever  had.  Some  two  or  three  years  before,  a  large 


g0  BOLLOWATS  IXDIANAPOLIS. 

frame  building  had  been  erected  on  the  north  west  corner  of  Market  and  Mississippi 
streets,  for  a  foundery,  that  never  came  to  any  thing,  and  during  this  rear  the  "  Indi- 
anapolis Thespian  Society "  took  it,  built  a  stage  in  it.  put  in  seats,  got  sdme  fair 
scenery,  and  during  the  summer  and  fall  gave  some  very  fair  performances  there. 
The  clyef  actors  were  James  McCready,— afterwards  Mayor, — Edward  S.  Tyler,  James 
G.  Jordan, — afterwards  City  Clerk,  and  first  Secretary  of  the  Bellefontaine  Railroad, — 
Davis  Miller, — once  Door-keeper  ef  the  Senate, — James  J?cVey,  and,  towards  the  close) 
Nathaniel  Cook,  a  regular  actor,  and  his  younger  brother  John,  sons  of  John  Cook, 
once  State  Librarian.  The  last,  and  Messrs.  McVey  and  Miller,  took  female  parts,  ag 
there  were  no  ladies  in  the  Society.  The  first  performance  was  of  Robert  Dale  Owen' 3 
drama  of  "  Pocahontas.''  which  had  little  other  recommendation  than  its  Indiana  au- 
thorship. The  "Golden  Farmer"  was  "run"  for  several  weeks,  very  successfully. 
Mr.  Tyler  was  the  favorite  as  "Jimmy  Twitcher,''  and  Mr.  McCready  as  "Old  Mobbs," 
and  Mr.  Jordan  as  the  "Farmer."  Home's  tragedy  of  "Douglass"  was  played  when 
young  Nat.  Cook  came  out;  and  it  has  been  worse  played  by  actors  of  more  preten" 
sions.  Cook  played  "Young  Norval "  and  James  Jordan  "Glenalvon;  "  Davis  Miller 
played  "  Lady  Randolph."  Jordan  was  a  good  actor,  with  unusual  natural  talents  for 
the  stage,  and  in  this  day  could  have  made  an  enviable  reputation.  Young  Cook 
was  an  actor  by  profession,  but  not  remarkably  good,  and  never  made  any  figure 
greater  than  that  of  a  "stock"  actor.  His  brother  Aquilla  was  afterwards  connected 
with  a  theatre  in  Cincinnati,  where  he  murdered  the  Treasurer,  for  some  fancied  insult 
to  his  wife,  who  was  a  dancing  girl.  The  Cook  family  made  a  considerable  figure  in 
the  town  about  this  time;  but  it  went  out,  as  the  Hoosier  phrase  has  it,  "at  the  little 
end  of  the  horn."  John  Cook,  the  father, —  who  was  State  Librarian, —  led  the  choir 
at  the  Temperance  meetings  which  Mr.  Hawkins,  the  old  Baltimore  reformer,  held  in 
the  Court  House.  The  favorite  air  was  the  "  Blue-Tailed  Fly,"  to  which  a  reformatory 
and  exhortatory  song  was  adapted  by  some  queer  process. — This  season  of  Temperance 
excitement  was  preceded  some  years  before,  by  another  and  more  important  one,  inau- 
gurated by  a  Mr.  Matthews,  one  of  the  Washingtonian  Society.  His  speeches  were 
strong,  direct  and  very  effective ;  and  he  made  them  more  so.  by  singing  some  temper- 
ance ditty  as  an  introduction.  "  What's  the  News?  "  was  one  of  these.  His  cause 
was  a  new  one  in  the  capital,  and  his  language, — though  we  have  become  used  to  it 
now, — was  then  considered  tolerably  harsh.  One  night  he  roused  old  Jerry  Collins, 
the  chief  of  doggery  keepers,  so  greatly,  that  he  interrupted  the  speech.  Quite  a  "re- 
vival" was  instituted;  and  many  a  "soaker"  was  arrested,  for  a  longer  or  shorter 
time,  by  the  good  influences  set  to  work  by  it. 

On  the  4th  day  of  July,  a  negro  by  the  name  of  John  Tucker,  was  brutally  mur- 
dered by  a  mob  of  white  men,  for  no  offense  except  his  courageous  defence  of  himself. 
A  young  man,  named  Nicholas  Woods,  began  the  difficulty  in  a  drunken  frolic,  by 
abusing  Tucker,  who  tried  to  avoid  him.  Finding  that  impossible,  he  gave  Woods  a 
thrashing.  The  latter  followed  him  up,  and  soon  collected  a  crowd  of  "roughs"  and 
citizens,  some  of  whom  began  stoning  the  negro.  He  retorted,  and  hurt  some  of  his 
assailants.  At  this  time  he  was  on  Illinois  street,  near  where  the  Bates  House  now 
stands.  Here  he  was  driven  upon  the  east  side  walk,  when  a  saloon  keeper,  named 
Bill  Ballenger,  struck  him  down  with  a  club.  Ballenger  made  his  escape.  Woods 
was  sent  to  the  penitentiary,  which  he  has  since  re-visited  once  or  twice,  on  the  so- 
licitation of  juries  in  larceny  cases. 

The  celebration  of  the  4th  was  enlarged  this  year,  by  a  military  addition,  and 
speeches  were  made,  on  the  part  of  the  companies,  by  Edward  Lander,  Judge  of  th 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  William  Wallace,  in  Henry  Ward  Beecher's  churc  . 


MEXICAN  WAR— GAMBLERS. 


81 


The  report  of  the  murderous  affray  going  on  but  a  hundred  yards  from  the  church, 
greatly  disturbed,  and  nearly  destroyed,  the  meeting.  During  the  summer,  Washing- 
ton street  was  graded  and  gravelled.  The  old  McAdamizing  was  pretty  well  worn 
out,  and  the  improvement  raised  the  street, — too  much,  probably,  in  the  middle, — and 
covered  it  with  coarse  gravel.  The  building  on  the'south  west  corner  of  Meridian  and 
Washington  streets,  was  erected  this  summer,  by  Seton  W.  Norris.  The  "  Locomo- 
tive," a  little  weekly  paper,  was  started  this  summer,  by  Daniel  B.  Culley  and  David 
R.  Elder.  It  was  nothing  but  a  boyish  affair  at  first,  and  was  filled  with  boyish  "bread 
and  butter"  articles;  but  in  1848,  after  a  suspension  of  a  year  or  so,  it  was  revived  by 
*  Elder  &  Harkness,  conducted  by  Mr.  John  R.  Elder,  and  made  a  paper  of  considerable 
1  influence.  Its  circulation,  for  some  years,  exceeded  that  of  any  other  paper  in  the 
town.  The  old  Methodist  church,  built  in  1828,  on  Meridian  street,  near  the  Circle, 
had,  in  1845,  become  unsafe,  as  well  as  inadequate,  and  it  was  torn  down.  Wesley 
Chapel  succeeded  it,  during  the  fall  and  ensuing  summer  of  1846.  In  1869  the  Chapel 
Vv~as  sold  to  Mr.  Richard  J.  Bright,  and  by  him  converted  into  a  large  and  very  hand- 
some business  house,,  mainly  occupied  by  the  "Indianapolis  Sentinel"  establishment, 
and  that  of  the  "  Evening  News.''  A  new  church  has  just  been  completed  on  the  south 
west  corner  of  Meridian  and  New  York  streets. 

The  interest  of  the  next  year,  1846,  centered  in  the  Mexican  war.  Governor 
Whitcomb's  proclamation,  calling  for  the  State's  quota  of  volunteers,  was  published  on 
the  23d  of  May,  and  was  responded  to  with  great  alacrity.  Three  regiments  were 
soon  raised  and  organized,  of  the  first  of  which  our  town  furnished  one  company,  under 
Captain  James  P.  Drake,  and  Lieutenants  John  A.  McDougall  and  Lewis  Wallace. 
Captain  Drake  was  made  Colonel  of  the  regiment,  in  the  rendezvous  at  New  Albany. 
This  regiment  was  kept  at  -the  month  of  the  Rio  Grande,  during  pretty  much  all  of  its 
years  service,  and  suffered  greatly  from  the  diseases  incident  to  the  climate  and  camp- 
life.  A  year  afterwards,  two  other  companies  were  raised  by  Captain  Edward  Lan- 
der and  John  McDougall,  and  were  attached  to  the  fourth  and  fifth  regiments,  which 
-\vcre  taken  by  General  Scott  in  his  march  upon  the  City  of  Mexico.  These  five  regi- 
ments constituted  the  whole  of  Indiana's  contribution  to  the  Mexican  war.  The 
regiments  raised  during  the  rebellion,  were  numbered  from  these,  the  first  being  the 
sixth. 

The  Madison  Railroad  was  now  coming  so  close  to  the  town,  that  its  impulse  was  • 
felt  in  business ;  and  the  first  throbbings  of  the  energy  which  was  to  develop  such 
great  results,  began  to  stir  the  little  county  town  with  the  hopes  of  greatness  and  pros- 
perity which  the  visit  of  the  "  Robert  Hanna"  created  and  disappointed.  The  Com- 
pany had  selected  its  depot-ground  on  South  street,  east  of  Pennsylvania,  then  clear 
out  of  town.  But  the  ground  was  high,  and  cheap,  and  convenient;  and  the  first 
angry  complaints  of  the  citizens  at  this  mislocation,  soon  died  out  in  the  bustle  and 
excitement  of  the  actual  arrival  of  the  road  in  1847.  The  depot  would  not  come  to 
the  town,  so  the  town  went  to  the  depot,  — planted  heavy  business  houses  all  around  it, 
and  created,  for  a  time,  a  sort  of  commercial  center  there.  The  creek  was  straightened 
from  Virginia  Avenue  to  Meridian  street,  by  the  property  holders,  and  the  streets 
graded  and  filled  across  the  low  muddy  space  of  the  creek  "bottom." 

The  gamblers,  who  were  bold  and  bad  enough  for  Vicksburg,  had  become  very 
offensive  during  the  year,  and  the  citizens  held  a  meeting,  and  resolved  to  clear  them 
out  by  constant  prosecutions  under  the  statute.  A  committee  of  thirteen  or  fifteen  was 
appointed,  consisting  of  the  best  and  most  respected  citizens,  to  carry  on  the  war. 
They  began  by  securing  the  services  of  Hiram  Brown,  —  one  of  the  ablest  members  of 
the  bar  in  the  days  when  it  was  strongest,  —  to  prosecute  the  scoundrels,  and  raised  a 
(6) 


Q2  HOLLOWAT'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

considerable  sum  of  money  for  expenses.  These  preparations  had  their  effect,  and  the 
gamblers  were  chased  out  without  any  prosecutions  at  all,  or  not  more  than  one  or 
two.  Lemuel  Frazier,  who  kept  the  "Capital  House,"  having  been  stirred  up  for 
allowing  gambling  in  his  hotel,  retaliated  by  suing  the  committee  for  malicious  pros- 
ecution ;  but  nothing  ever  came  of  it. 


FE!\IOD— TO    l86o, 


h  apt 


CONDITION     OF     THE    CITY     IN     1847 — THE   GREAT     FRESHET — CITY     GOVERNMENT 

STREET    IMPROVEMENTS MASONIC    HALL  —  MADISON     RAILROAD  —  SCHOOLS 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

fflE  year  1847  marks  the  first  great  change  in  the  condition  and  prospects  of 
Indianapolis.  Heretofore  it  had  been  a  mere  country  town,  which  owed  all 
its  importance  to  the  possession  of  the  Capital.  Its  business  was  purely  local. 
It  produced  little,  and  it  distributed  little  that  it  did  not  produce.  A  small  amount 
of  "jobbing"  was  done  in  an  irregular  way  among  the  smaller  dealers  and  manu- 
facturers of  the  neighboring  towns,  but  it  was  neither  large  enough  or  certain 
enough  to  be  considered  a  branch  of  trade.  The  manufacturing,  except  for  home 
demand,  was  even  more  trifling  than  the  mercantile,  business.  Occasional  attempts 
had  been  made  at  iron,  wool,  oil,  tobacco,  hemp,  and  even  ginseng  manufacture,  but 
none  of  them  amounted  to  much  or  lasted  long.  The  only  attempt  on  a  large  scale, 
that  of  the  Steam  Mill  Company,  was  a  conspicuous  failure.  The  town  was  isola- 
ted, and  its  only  chance  of  trade  was  like  that  of  the  two  boys  locked  up  in  a  closet, 
who  made  money  by  swapping  jackets.  It  lacked  a  way  out  and  in.  When  this 
opening  came,  with  the  opening  of  the  Madison  Railroad,  there  came  with  it  much 
such  a  cbange  as  comes  upon  boyhood  at  puberty.  There  was  a  change  of  features, 
of  form,  a  suggestion  of  manhood,  a  trace  of  the  beard  and  voice  of  virility.  Manu- 
facturers appeared,  and  would  not  disappear.  "Stores"  that  had  formerly  mixed 
up  dry  goods,  groceries,  grain,  hardware,  earthenware,  and  even  books,  in  their 
stock,  began  to  select  and  confine  themselves  to  one  or  two  classes  of  their  former 
as^oitment.  Dry  goods  houses  which  kept  neither  coffee  nor  mackerel,  appeared. 
Grocery  establishments  which  sold  neither  calico  nor  crockery  became  visible.  Busi- 
ness showed  its  growth  in  its  divisions.  The  town  itself  showed  the  forecoming 
shadow  of  manhood  in  larger  business  houses,  and  the  dropping  down,  here  and 
there,  in  remote  corners,  of  "family  groceries."  The  price  of  property  advanced. 
A  city  form  of  government  was  adopted.  A  school  system  was  inaugurated. 
Everybody  felt  the  impulse,  without  exactly  feeling  its  direction,  of  prosperity. 

In  the  first  decided  development  of  this  change  the  year  1847  opened.  On  the 
7th  of  January  the  "  great  freshet"  reached  its  highest  point.  The  river  had  never 
been  so  high  before,  except  once,  and  has  never  been  within  three  feet  of  the  same 
mark  since.  It  covered  all  the  bottoms,  and  swept  away  miles  of  fences,  and  thou- 
sands of  cattle,  hogs  and  horses.  Many  fine  fields  were  so  covered  with  sand  and 
seamed  by  the  rapid  currents  that  they  were  ruined,  and  many  a  prosperous  farmer 


84 


HOLLOW  AITS  INDIANAPOLIS. 


was  nearly  ruined  by  its  devastations.  So  great  and  general  were  its  ravages  that 
the  Legislature  allowed  a  reduction  of  taxes  to  the  sufferers.  In  the  Capital  the 
mischief  of  the  river  freshet  was  confined  to  West  Indianapolis,  or  "Stringtown." 
It  was  covered  entmly,  from  the  bridge  to  the  bluff  at  "  Palmer's  Farm."  Many 
houses  were  filled  nearly  to  the  second  story.  The  water  rose  high  enough  to  cover 
the  National  Road,  and  in  two  places  currents  ran  so  fiercely  that  they  cut  through 
the  road-way,  and  made  ugly  gaps  fifty  feet  wide  and  eight  or  ten  feet  detp.  On 
each  side  of  the  road  at  both  breaches,  the  soft  alluvial  soil  was  dug  out  by  the 
whirling  eddies  into  huge  holes  like  the  craters  of  small  volcanoes.  They  were 
fully  thirty  feet  deep,  and  the  southern  hole,  of  the  largest  gap,  was  so  large  that  a 
two-story  frame  house,  which  had  been  floated  from  its  place  by  the  current,  was 
left  sticking  against  its  eastern  bank,  all  askew,  and  ready  to  slide  to  the  bottom 
at  any  moment.  Nearly  a  half  mile  of  the  National  Road  was  covered  by  the 
water.  A  considerable  breadth  of  the  high  bank,  along  where  the  pork  houses  and 
railroad  bridges  now  stand,  was  cut  away,  making  the  first  approach  to  the  change 
which  has  since  brought  the  river  to  the  very  edge  of  the  cemeteries.  There  used 
to  be  a  small  island  a  hundred  or  two  hundred  yards  long,  in  the  river,  opposite 
the  "Old  Grave- Yard,"  and  separated  from  the  eastern  bank  by  a  narrow  stream, 
sometimes  entirely  dry  in  summer.  This  island. was  covered  with  large  trees,  and 
at  the  head  of  it  was  a  drift  which  for  many  years  was  a  favorite  place  for  catching 
"red-eyes,"  cat-fish,  and  bad  colds.  Between  the  "chute"  east  of  that  island  and 
the  Grave-Yard  was  a  considerable  breadth  of  forest.  Now  that  island  and  that 
whole  breadth  of  forest  are  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  on  McCarty'a  sand-bar, 
and  the  water  has  actually  cut  into  the  Grave-Yard.  The  river  has  come  one 
hundred  yards  eastward  since  the  freshet  of  1847  began  the  removal.  Although  the 
river  did  not  directly  damage  the  town,  the  freshet  in  Fall  Creek  and  Pogue's 
Creek  did.  The  former  tore  out  the  canal  aqueduct,  and  the  latter  tore  out  the 
canal  culvert,  and  between  them  ruined  the  canal  for  a  year.  Fall  Creek,  too,  sent 
surplus  water  into  the  swamps  north-east  of  town,  and  they  poured  out  a  flood  into 
the  "ravines"  which  filled  a  number  of  lots,  and  damaged  a  good  many  houses  on 
their  way  through  to  the  river.  They  emptied  into  the  canal,  and  caused  it  to  make 
a  third  break,  as  before  noticed,  below  where  the  Rolling  Mill  now  stands. 

The  news  of  the  famine  in  Ireland  created  here,  a?  elsewhere,  a  great  deal  of 
feeling,  and  successful  efforts  were  made  by  public  meetings,  committees,  and  news- 
paper appeals  to  raise  contributions  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers. 

As  if  to  prepare  for  the  material  change  hastening  up  the  Madison  Railroad, 
the  town  now  took  measures  to  form  a  city  government.  The  Legislature  on  the 
13th  of  February  voted  a  city  charter,  appointing  the  27th  of  March  for  an  election 
to  determine  whether  it  should  be  accepted.  Joseph  A.  Levy,  a  blacksmith,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Council,  published  a  proclamation  ordering  an  election  on  the  appointed 
day.  It  was  held,  and  resulted  in  a  vote  of  449  votes  for  the  charter,  to  19  against 
it  This  was  a  very  light  vote,  as  it  would  indicate  a  population  of  less  than  3000, 
and  as  it  was  8000  in  1850,  it  is  clear  that  either  the  town  nearly  trebled  its  popu- 
lation in  three  years,  or  the  citizens  of  1847  deemed  the  adoption  of  the  charter  a 
foregone  conclusion  and  did  not  trouble  themselves  to  vote.  The  population  at  the 
time  of  the  adoption  of  the  new  charter  and  city  form  of  government,  and  the  com- 
mencement of  the  new  era  in  its  history,  was  probably  about  6000.  The  new  char- 
ter extended  the  government  over  the  whole  donation,  except  the  "make-weight  " 
fraction  in  Stringtown,  and  divided  it  into  seven  Wards,  four  north,  and  three  south 
of  Washington  Street.  Those  north  were  divided  by  Alabama,  Meridian  and  Mis- 


CONDITION  OF  THE  CITY.  g^ 

sis&ippi  Streets ;  those  south  by  Illinois  and  Delaware  Streets.  The  Mayor  was  not 
to  preside  in  the  Council,  but  had  a  veto  power  on  its  acts.  He  served  two  years 
and  had  the  jurisdiction  of  a  Justice  in  addition  to  his  municipal  authority.  There 
was  one  Councilman  for  each  Ward,  who  was  paid  $24  a  year  for  his  services.  The 
Council  elected  their  own  President,  and  held  monthly  meetings.  It  had  all  the 
customary  power?  of  such  bodies,  with  one  now  taken  from  it,  that  of  electing  the 
subordinate  city  officers,  as  Marshal,  Treasurer,  Secretary,  Street  Commissioner,  At- 
torney, and  all  other  officers  they  needed.  No  tax  could  exceed  15  cents  on  the 
$100,  except  by  authority  of  a  special  vote  of  the  people.  The  first  election  was 
held  on  the  24th  of  April,  and  resulted  in  the  choice  of  Samuel  Henderson  for 
Mayor,  in  favor  of  a  tax  for  free  schools,  and  of  the  following  Councilmen :  First 
Ward,  Uriah  Gates;  Second,  Henry  Tutewiler;  Third,  Cornelius  King;  Fourth, 
Samuel  S.  Booker ;  Fifth,  Charles  W.  Cady  ;  Sixth,  Abram  W.  Harrison  ;  Seventh, 
William  L.  Wingate.  The  new  Council  organized  on  the  1st  of  May  by  electing 
Mr.  Rooker  President,  and  James  G.  Jordan  Secretary,  salary  $100;  Nathan  Lis- 
ter, treasurer,  $50;  James  Wood,  Engineer,  $300  ;  Wm.  Campbell,  Collector,  paid 
by  fees;  Wm.  Campbell,  also,  Marshal,  $150  and  fees;  A.  M.  Carnahan,  Attorney, 
fees;  Jacob  B.  Filler,  Street  Commissioner,  $100;  J.  B.  Filler,  also,  with  David 
Cox,  Messengers  for  Fire  Companies,  $25;  Sampson  Barbee  and  Jacob  Miller, 
Market  Clerks,  $50  ;  Joshua  Black,  Assessor;  Benjamin  Lobaugh,  Sexton.  With 
this  crew  and  organization  the  good  ship  "  Cit&of  Indianapolis"  set  sail  on  the  1st 
day  of  May,  1847. 

The  new  city  government,  whatever  pretentions  might  be  involved  in  the  litle, 
started  with  as  little  support  of  metropolitan  dignity  as  any  cily  ever  did.  The  lax 
duplicale  showed  a  possible  revenue  of  only  $4,236,  and  one-fifth  of  that  was  made 
by  past  delinquencies;  and  street  improvements  had  accomplished  litlle  beyond 
what  might  have  been  seen  in  any  country  road.  Stumps  and  mud-holes  were  ugly 
•disfigurements  of  the  streets,  and  the  first  efforts  of  improvement  were  naturally  di- 
rected to  their  removal.  The  means,  no  less  than  the  unenterprising  disposition  of 
the  authorities,  prevented  anymore  general  or  permanent  effort.  Side- walks  were 
not  common  off  Washington  Street,  and  elsewhere  were  merely  strips  of  gravel 
with  depths  of  mud  on  either  hand.  Large  spaces  of  open  gi-ound,  or  common, 
-could  be  seen  in  all  directions  covered  by  "dog-fennel"  of  luxuriant  growth.  The 
•ditches  were  shallow  furrows,  bordered,  and  oftentimes  choked  up,  with  "dog- 
fennel."  Except  where  travel  had  worn  away  the  sod,  in  a  sinuous  line  that  dodged 
a  stump  in  one  place  and  a  mud-hole  in  another,  the  streets  were  masses  of  "  dog- 
fennel,"  pleasing  enough,  possibly,  in  a  picturesque  point  of  view,  but  decidedly 
otherwise  in  any  view  that  contemplated  the  prosperity  of  the  new  city.  It  is  only 
within  the  past  few  years  that  this  characteristic  growth  of  the  city  has  disappeared, 
and  even  now  there  are  scattered  patches  of  it  clinging,  like  the  Indian,  to  the 
territory  which  it  once  occupied  alone  and  supreme.  In  any  proper  sense  we  had 
no  streets.  They  were  merely  openings  which  might  be  used  or  not,  as  the  weather 
made  them  impassable  mud  or  insufferable  dust.  The  town  was  gathered  in  a  loose 
way,  in  the  center  of  the  donation,  huddled  pretty  closely  together  for  four  or  five 
streets,  divided  by  Market  Street,  and  sprangling  off  in  clumps  of  settlement  at 
other  points,  while  much  of  the  "  donation  "  outside  of  the  original  plat  was  pretty 
good  hunting  ground  for  quails  and  squirrels.  Only  four  or  five  years  before,  the 
woods  west  of  Samuel  Henderson's  farm,  where  the  "Home  for  Friendless  Women" 
now  stands,  was  a  favorite  resort  for  wild  turkeys,  and  they  had  occasionally  been 
.driven,  in  the  fury  of  the  chase,  clear  into  town.  One  was  caught,  in  this  way,  in 


gg  nOLLOWAT'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

the  Governor's  Circle  as  late  as  1841,  by  Mr.  A.  D.  Ohr.  On  the  south,  the  pasture 
where  the  Old  Boiling  Mill  stands,  was  a  capital  squirrel  ground,  and  visits  of 
quails  into  the  heart  of  the  town,  and  their  capture  in  back-yards  and  about  stables, 
a  very  common  occurrence.  It  happens  occasionally  even  now. 

Into  this  still  half  village,  half  forest  city,  the  new  government  determined  to 
introduce  a  general  system  of  improvements.  The  plan  of  grading  proposed  by 
Engineer  Wood  in  1841,  and  adopted  in  1842,  was  readopted,  with  the  addition  that 
it  should  be  carried  out  systematically,  by  improving  the  central  portion  of  the  city 
first,  and  extending  improvements  outward  as  opportunity  permitted.  The  cost  of 
grading  and  graveling  the  streets  and  side-walks  was  taxed  against  the  owners  of 
the  property,  and,  of  course,  caused  a  good  deal  of  ill  will  and  litigation  But  as  it 
had  the  advantage  of  making  only  those  pay  who  were  benefitted,  it  stood  firmly 
against  the  numerous  complaints  of  its  injurious  operation.  The  cost  of  making 
crossings,  which  consisted  then,  and  do  yet,  of  little  wooden  bridges  across  the. 
gutters,  was  paid  out  of  the  Treasury.  In  this  way  began  the  improvements  which 
have  since  made  tolerable  thoroughfares  of  one  hundred  and  forty-six  miles  of 
streets,  and  very  good  ones  of  a  number  of  them.  Bouldering  was  not  attempted 
until  1859,  when  Washington  Street  was  paved  in  this  way  from  Illinois  to  Meridi- 
an, and  in  1860  from  Mississippi  to  Alabama.  This  year  (1870)  Delaware  Street 
has  been  paved  with  wooden  blocks,  upon  the  Nicolson  plan,  from  Washington  to 
North  Street,  and  its  superiority  to  the  noisy,  rough  bouldering  is  so  marked  that  it 
is  possible  it  may  be  extended  to  all  the  principal  streets.  Notwithstanding  the 
laudable  efforts  of  the  first  city  government,  but  little,  comparatively,  was  done  in 
street  improvements  until  1860.  What  is  now  to'  be  seen  has  been  mainly  accom- 
plished since  then. 

With  the  introduction  of  the  first  general  system  of  street  improvements  came 
the  free  school  system.  The  State  fund  yielded  barely  enough  to  maintain  the  schools 
for  a  single  quarter,  and  left  teachers  and  pupils  to  provide  for  themselves  for  the 
remainder  of  the  year.  It  was  hoped  that  a  local  addition  might  be  made  which 
would  enable  the  schools  to  be  kept  open  all,  or  the  greater  part,  of  the  year.  To 
this  end  a  provision  was  made  in  the  new  charter  authorizing  a  vote  at  the  election 
of  city  officers  upon  the  question  whether  a  tax  should  be  levied  for  school  purpo-  . 
ses.  It  was  decided,  to  the  credit  of  the  citizens,  almost  unanimously  in  the  affirm- 
ative. The  tax  having  been  assessed,  and  a  provision  thus  made  for  a  complete 
and  permanent  system  of  free  education,  steps  were  taken  at  once  to  apply  the 
provision  effectively.  Donations  of  lots  for  houses,  and  money  for  tuition,  were 
asked,  to  eke  out  the  inadequate  supply  of  both  the  State  and  city  fund.  The  Coun- 
cil in  the  winter  passed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Thomas  D.  Gregg  for  the  donation  of 
$100.  Others  may  have  been  more  or  less  liberal,  but  no  Council  vote  indicates  it. 
Luckily  real  estate,  though  rising  under  the  general  impulse,  was  cheap,  and  lots 
were  obtained  for  $300  to  $500  in  all  the  Wards  during  the  following  two  years. 
Of  course  provision  had  first  to  be  made  for  the  erection  of  houses,  and  until  that 
was  done,  by  the  accumulation  of  the  city  tax,  the  Ward  schools  were  merely  State 
District  schools  under  city  supervision.  But  the  city  tax  came  in,  slowly  at  first, 
but  rapidly  enough  by  1852  to  have  completed  small  brick  houses,  of  one  or  two- 
rooms  each,  but  so  adjusted  as  to  allow  future  enlargement,  in  all  the  Wards.  The 
yield  of  1847  was  $1,981;  of  1848,  $2,385;  of  1849,  $2,851.  By  1850  it  was  $6.160 
of  which  $5,958  had  been  expended  upon  houses  and  lots.  Nothing  being  left  for 
tuition  beyond  the  provision  of  the  State  fund,  it  was  paid  by  fees.  In  other  words, 
the  State  provision  was  merely  divided  among  the  Wards  and  maintained  in  that 


CITY  SCHOOLS— MASONIC  BALL.  Q7 

form  until  the  city  provision  had  become  considerable  enough  to  permit  the  inaugu- 
ration of  a  system  of  city  free  schools.  This  was  done  in  1853.  Three  Trustees, 
Henry  P.  Coburn,  Calvin  Fletcher,  and  Henry  F.  West,  were  elected  by  the  Coun- 
cil to  take  entire  control  of  the  schools.  The  separate  Ward  Trustees  were  abol- 
ished, and  the  whole  system  brought  together  and  made  compact  and  manageable. 
Calvin  Fletcher  drew  up  a  series  of  rules  and  regulations,  and  a  plan  of  operations, 
teachers  were  obtained,  matters  set  in  order,  and  on  the  28th  of  April,  1853,  the 
city  free  schools  were  really  opened,  with  two  male  and  twelve  female  teachers. 
This  was  the  beginning  of  what  has  since  grown  through  many  difficulties  and  em- 
barassments  into  one  of  the  most  perfectly  constructed  and  admirably  conducted 
school  systems  in  the  United  States.  The  detailed  account  of  the  changes  and  dif- 
ficulties through  which  it  has  passed  will  be  found  in  another  place. 

Like  all  country  towns,  the  capital  had,  up  to  this  year,  been  compelled  to  hear 
its  lectures  and  concerts  in  churches  or  the  Court  House,  with  an  occasional  diver- 
sion to  the  Hall  of  Representatives  in  the  State  House.  No  special  provision  had 
been  made  for  so  important  an  element  of  city  life  as  a  place  of  public  entertainment. 
One  of  the  first  manifestations  that  a  new  order  of  things  was  approaching,  was  the 
resolution  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Free  Masons  to  erect  a  splendid  edifice  to 
contain  not  only  rooms  for  the  Grand  and  city  lodges,  but  a  large  hall  for  public 
uses.  In  May  they  purchased  the  southeast  corner  of  Washington  and  Tennessee 
streets,  and  formed  a  company,  of  which  they  themselves  took  a  large  share  of  the 
stock,  to  carry  out  this  purpose.  A  plan  of  building  proposed  by  Mr.  J.  Willis, 
one  of  the  first  architects  who  became  a  resident  here,  was  adopted,  and  'measures 
taken  at  once  to  proceed  with  the  work,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Hon.  Wm. 
Sheets.  On  the  25th  of  October  the  corner-stone  was  laid  with  imposing  Masonic 
ceremonies,  and  the  singing  a  song  written  for  the  occasion  by  Mrs.  Sarah  T. 
Bolton.  The  work  was  not  very  energetically  pushed,  however,  and  it  was  not  till 
the  spring  of  1850  that  it  was  so  far  completed  that  the  public  hall  could  be  opened. 
It  was  first  occupied — if  the  writer's  memory  is  not  at  fault — by  Mrs.  Lesdernier  for 
a  concert  or  dramatic  reading,  and  was  in  frequent  request  afterward,  although  the 
upper  or  lodge  rooms  were  still  unfinished.  They  were  completed  during  the  fall 
and  winter,  and  the  hall  was  dedicated  by  the  Grand  Lodge,  at  its  annual  meeting, 
May  27th,  1851.  The  Constitutional  Convention  of  1850,  after  a  few  days'  session 
in  the  Representative's  Hall  of  the  Capitol,  finding  its  accommodations  inadequate, 
and,  moreover,  having  to  give  place  soon  to  the  Legislature,  adjourned  to  the  new 
hall  which  had  been  prepared  for  it  as  fully  as  possible,  and  continued  there  till  its 
labors  were  completed.  From  its  opening  until  the  erection  of  Morrison's  Opera 
Hall,  the  Masonic  Hall  was  the  scene  of  nearly  all  public  displays  and  entertain- 
ments given  in  the  city.  Political  conventions,  religious  meetings,  concerts,  theatric- 
al entertainments,  lectures,  balls,  fairs,  and  panorama?,  occupied  it  in  turn.  Hor- 
ace Greeley,  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  John  B.  Gough,  Theodore  Parker,  Ralph  Waldo 
Emerson,  Henry  Giles,  lectured  there,  and  Alexander  Campbell  preached  there. 
Madame  Bishop,  Bochsa,  Strakosch,  the  now  celebrated  Adelina  Patti,  Carlotta 
PattJ,  Ole  Bull,  and  a  long  list  of  musical  celebrities,  performed  there.  In  fact, 
for  fifteen  years  it  may  be  considered  the  embodiment  of  the  intellectual  and  esthe- 
tic life  of  the  city.  The  stock  has  all  long  been  absorbed  by  the  Grand  Lodge,  and 
recently  the  building,  and  hall,  too,  have  been  repaired  and  greatly  improved.  For 
a  while  after  the  opening  of  the  Opera  Hall,  more  centrally  situated,  and  in  some 
respects  better  adapted  to  public  uses,  Masonic  Hall  fell  into  disrepute,  and  became 
the  resort  of  second-rate  exhibitions.  But  since  its  repair,  and  the  burning  of  the 


gg  HOLLOWAY'S  IXDIAXAPOLIS. 

Opera  Hall  in  the  winter  of  1869-70,  it  has  resumed  its  old  position.  As  the  Opera 
Hall  has  been  left  out  of  the  new  building  on  its  site,  it  is  likely  that  the  old  hall 
•will  retain  its  long  supremacy  a  while  longer. 

The  return  of  our  volunteers  in  Mexico  being  anticipated,  a  meeting  was  held 
in  May  to  prepare  a  reception  for  them,  but  as  they  did  not  come  back  in  a  body, 
the  reception  failed.  Subsequently  a  public  demonstration  in  their  honor  was  made 
in  the  State  House  Square,  at  which  Hon.  Edward  A.  Hannegan  made  a  speech, 
but  a  very  rainy,  inclement  day  spoiled  it,  to  a  great  extent.  A  number  of  the  vol- 
unteers came  out,  however,  and  brought  their  old  battered  and  honored  flags  with 
them.  In  July  the  body  of  Captain  Trusten  B.  Kinder,  of  this  city,  but  who  re- 
sided in  one  of  the  south-west  counties  of  the  State  when  he  entered  the  army, 
and  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  was  brought  home,  and  received 
with  one  of  the  most  imposing  popular  displays  ever  witnessed  in  the  city. 

The  lack  of  female  teachers  for  our  schools  led  to  efforts  this  year  to  get  up  a 
sort  of  "  Koopmanschaap  "  emigration  scheme,  to  supply  the  deficiency,  or  rather  it 
induced  an  application  for  help  to  Governor  Slade  of  New  Hampshire,  who  had  for 
some  time  been  conducting  s;jch  a  scheme.  He  sent  on  a  small  supply  of  teachers 
in  June.  They  were  distributed  through  the  State,  and,  of  course,  soon  married  off. 
So  the  result,  however  beneficial  in  the  end,  left  the  schools  little  better  ofl'. 

The  Madison  Railroad,  now  advancing  rapid'y  from  Franklin,  would  reach  us 
on  the  1st  of  October,  and  on  the  25th  of  September  a  meeting  of  citizens  was 
called  to  make  preparations  to  celebrate  the  great  event — really  great  for  it  realized, 
all  and  inoro  than  was  anticipated  by  the  wildest  enthusiasm  inspired  by  the  visit 
of  the  '•  Robert  Hanna  "  in  1831.  About  9  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  1st,  the 
last  spike  was  driven,  just  in  time  for  the  passage  of  two  large  excursion  trains  from 
below,  and  the  locomotive  came,  for  the  first  time,  into  the  town  which  has  since 
been  justly  enough  known  as  the  "  Eailroad  City."  Its  arrival  was  witnessed  and 
cheered  by  thousands  of  the  "natives,"  most  of  whom  had  never  seen  a  railroad  or 
engine,  and  whose  notions  of  a  speed  of  twenty  miles  an  hour  were  so  indefinite  as  to 
be  slightly  mixed  with  the  fabulous.  Many  of  them  improved  the  opportunity  to 
make  an  excursion  to  Franklin,  while  the  thousands  who  remained  joined  in  swell- 
ing the  monster  procession  which  was  to  be  the  feature  of  the  day's  ceremonies. 
Spalding's  circus  was  "  showing  "  in  the  city  at  the  time,  with  the  band  of  the  cele- 
brated bugler  Ned  Kendall,  and  the  whole  troupe,  with  a  cavalry  company  from 
the  country,  lent  their  attractions  to  the  display.  Governor  "Whitcomb  made  a 
speech  from  the  top  of'a  car  in  conclusion  of  this  portion  of  the  ceremony,  and  then 
all  made  for  the  hotels  '•  up  town  !:  for  dinner.  At  night  there  were  fire-works,  an 
illumination,  and  a  general  "good  time/'  1  he  rejoicings  were  not  extravagant, 
and  if  they  had  been  they  would  not  have  exceeded  the  importance  of  the  occasion 
which  for  the  first  time  rendered  the  Capital  independent  of  mud,  ice  and  freshets. 
The  long  reign  of  the  "wagoners  :' — the  Peereys,  Stucks  and  Ritchies — was  ended. 

The  Madison  Railroad  depot  was  built,  as  heretofore  stated,  on  the  elevation, 
the  site  of  the  old  "  Hawkins"  place,  on  South  Street,  east  of  Pennsylvania,  then 
entirely  oat  of  town.  The  whole  unoccupied,  "bottom  "of  Pogue's  Creek  inter- 
vened, and  it  was  then,  as  it  had  been  from  the  first,  a  muddy,  unwholesome  inter- 
vale, which  bade  fair  to  remain  unsettled  till  long  after  the  town  had  spread  illirnit- 
ably  northward.  Consequently,  the  location  of  the  depot  was  generally  censured 
as  unwise.  It  was  built  during  the  preceding  year,  and  speedily  gathered  a  col- 
j  ection  of  groceries  and  commission  houses,  saloons  and  boarding  houses,  round  it, 
and  made  a  little  city  quite  to  itself.  It,  has  only  been  within  the  past  ten  year-' 


MADISON  BATLBOAD— TELEGRAPH,  gg 

that  any  considerable  progress  has  been  made  toward  consolidating  it  with  the 
parent  city.  But  it  is  accomplished  now,  and  Pogue's  Creek  valley  has  measurably 
disappeared  under  foundries,  machine  shops,  mills,  and  railway  tracks.  The  Com- 
pany erected  their  machine  shops  in  1850,  and  built  a  frame  car  house  over  their 
track,  which  a  hurricane  blew  down  for  them  a  few  years  afterwards.  For  five 
years  the  road  was  run  upon  a  flat  rail,  a  little  more  rapidly,  but  not  much  more 
•  pleasantly  than  a  stage  coach  upon  a  "corduroy"  road.  But  between  1850  and 
1852  it  was  replaced  by  the  T  rail,  and  such  a  business,  so  far  as  profit  goes,  done 
upon  it  as  no  road  is  ever  likely  to  do  again.  A  detailed  account  of  our  railroads 

will  be  found  in  another  place. 

r 

We  may  note,  in  concluding  the  sketch  of  1847,  that  it  witnessed  the  establish- 
ment of  the  first  wholesale  Dry  Goods  Store  in  the  city — that  of  Joseph  Little  &  Co., 
in  the  building,  or  next  the  building  now  occupied  by  James  Sulgrove's  Saddlery 
Hardware  establishment.  The  firm  subsequently  became  Little,  Drum  &  Andersons 
and  in  their  hands  the  store  was  burned  in  May,  1848. 

In  January,  1848,  Andrew  Kennedy,  an  ex-member  of  Congress,  and  at  the 
time  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  died  of  small  pox,  at  the  Palmer  House.  As  his 
disease  was  not  known  at  first,  his  fellow- members  had  called  upon  him  frequently; 
and,  supposing  themselves  liable  to  the  infection,  created  a  panic,  in  which  the  Le- 
gislature adjourned.  There  was  some  cause  for  alarm ;  and  the  City  Council,  stimu- 
lated by  a  few  fresh  cases,  set  to  work  to  provide  a  hospital.  Universal  vaccination 
was  ordered,  a  Board  of  Health  established,  a  hospital  lot  bought,  material  for  a 
hospital  got  together,  and  a  contract  made  with  Seth  Bardwell  to  erect  it.  But  the 
panic  disappeared,  for  the  disease  never  spread  widely;  and  the  Council  paid  Mr. 
Bardwell  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  for  his  contract,  and  gave  him  the 
material,  and  thus  the  hospital  enterprise  failed.  The  contractor  built  a  three- 
story  frame  house  of  the  material,  nearly  opposite  the  Governor's  House,  and  it  is 
.  now  used  as  a  Hotel,  and  called  the  Indiana  House. 

The  first  Telegraph  Company,  under  the  charge  of  Henry  O'Reilly,  was  char- 
tered on  the  14th  day  of  February,'  1848,  subscriptions  of  stock  received,  and  a  line  to 
Dayton  built  by  the  12th  of  May,  on  which  day  the  first  dispatches  were  sent  through 
it  to  Richmond.  Newspaper  dispatches  were  first  published  by  the  Sentinel,  on  the 
24th  of  May.  The  first  office  was  in  the  second  story  of  Hubbard's  block,  and  the 
first  operator  was  Isaac  H.  Kiersted.  Other  lines  have  since  been  built,  and,  until 
recently,  were  all  consolidated  in  the  hands  of  the  Western  Union  Company.  But 
within  the  past  year  or  so,  another  collection  of  lines,  called  the  Pacific  and  Atlantic, 
has  been  made,  which  is  operated  in  direct  competition  with  the  old  one.  Its  office 
is  on  Meridian' street,  opposite  Blackford's  block,  and  is  under  the  charge  of 
E.  C.  Hewlett.  The  first  line,  after  opening  in  Hubbard's  block,  was  removed 
to  Harrison's,  on  Washington  street, — subsequently  to  the  rooms  nearly  opposite, — • 
then  to  the  second  story  of  the  building  on  the  north  west  corner  of  Washington 
and  Meridian  streets,  and  lastly  to  Blackford's  block,  where  it  has  an  office  on  the 
ground  floor,  and  operators'  rooms  above.  It  has  been  in  charge  of  Mr.  Kiersted, 
J.  W.  Chapin,  Anton  Schneider,  S.  B.  Morris,  J.  F.  Wilson,  and  J.  F.  Wallick. 
When  the  Magnetic  Telegraph  was  first  suggested  as  a  suitable  subject  for  Congres- 
sional encouragement,  Governor  Wallace,  of  this  State,  was  a  member  of  the  House, 
and  of  the  committee  to  which  the  matter  of  an  appropriation  was  referred.  His 
name  coming  last  in  the  alphabetical  order  of  the  committee,  it  was  his  luck  to  de- 
cide a  tie  vote  in  favor  of  the  appropriation.  As  little  faith  was  felt  by  the  great 
body,  even  of  intelligent  people,  who  had  not  seen  the  telegraph  in  operation,  this  vote 


90  HOLLOWArS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

of  the  Governor's  was  used  against  him  with  great,  if  not  fatal  effect,  in  his  second 
race  for  Congress,  with  "William  J.  Brown.  But  when  the  office  here  was  opened, 
and  the  invention  was  seen  to  send  and  receive  instantaneous  communications  with 
towns  seventy  miles  away,  suspicion  gave  place  to  amazement,  and  the  general 
feeling  was  accurately  and  characteristically  expressed  by  Jerry  Johnson, —  a  very 
eccentric  and  witty  old  farmer  who  lived  adjoining  town  on  the  north,  and  was  the 
first  man  married  in  the  town, — when  he  looked  up  at  the  one  telegraph  wire  run- 
ning along  Washington  street,  and  said:  ''Great  Lord!  who  would  ever  have  thought 
of  seeing  lightning  driven  down  the  street,  and  with  a  single  line,  at  that?"  Those 
familiar  with  the  fashions  of  old  teamsters,  will  understand  the  wit  of  the  suggestion 
of  the  "  single  line."  As  many  may  not  be,  it  may  be  well  to  explain  that  wagoners 
with  three  or  four-horse  teams,  did  not  use  a  rein  or  line  for  each  horse,  as  stage- 
coaches and  carriages  do,  but  used  one  long,  heavy  line,  fastened  to  the  bit  of  the 
"near  leader;  "  and  the  "single  line"  being  less  easily  managed,  implied  both  more 
skill  in  the  driver,  and  more  obedience  or  intelligence  in  the  horses. 

In  June,  an  attempt  to  form  a  Merchant's  Exchange  was  made,  with  Charles 
W.  Cady  as  Secretary,  but  it  came  to  nothing.  In  1853  it  was  succeeded  by  another 
attempt,  better  considered;  but  that  failed,  too,  after  making  some  effort  to  exhibit 
the  advantages  of  Indianapolis  as  a  manufacturing  and  commercial  point.  It  was 
constructed- by  J.  D.  Defrees,  N.  McCarty,  Ignatius  Brown, — the  author  of  the  pub- 
lication in  regard  to  the  city,  and  the  author  of  a  history  of  the  c:ty,  from  which 
most  of  the  material  of  this  sketch  is  taken — R.  J.  Gatling — of  Gatling  Gun  notoriety, 
Austin  H.  Brown,  and  John  T.  Cox.  The  President  was  Douglass  Maguire,  the 
Secretary  John  L.  Ketcham,  and  the  Treasurer  K.  B.  Duncan.  It  was  succeeded  in 
1856  by  a  third  failure,  for  want  of  money.  In  1866  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  was 
formed,  with  Dr.  T.  B.  Elliott  as  President,  and  J.  Barnard  as  Secretary,  and  this 
last  seems  in  a  fair  way  to  live.  It  has  excellent  rooms  in  the  new  Sentinel  building. 

The  Indiana  Volksblatt,  the  first  paper  published  in  a  foreign  language  in  the 
city,  was  established  this  year,  by  Julius  Boetticher,  proprietor,  and  Paul  Geiser, 
as  editor.  Its  office  was  first  a  second  floor  room  in  Temperance  Hall.  But  its  suc- 
cess has  since  enabled  its  enterprising  proprietor  to  build  a  house  himself  on  Wash- 
ington street,  a  little  east  of  the  Court  house  Square,  and  it  has  been  published 
there  for  a  number  of  years.  It  is  Democratic  in  politics. 

The  Central  Plank  Road  Company  was  chartered  in  1848,  to  use  the  old  Na- 
tional Road,  and  in  1849  laid  their  planks  and  put  up  two  toll  gates,  one  at  the  Na- 
tional Road  bridge,  and  one  just  east  of  town.  As  this  was  taking  an  illiberal  advan- 
tage of  their  franchise,  the  citizens  wouldn't  stand  it,  and  the  council  obtained  the 
removal  of  the  eastern  one,  on  condition  that  the  company  should  not  be  responsi- 
ble for  the  repairs  of  Washington  street,  which  formed  part  of  the  National  Road. 

The  Union  Railroad  Company,  to  which  belongs  the  Union  Depot  and  the 
city  tracks  connecting  the  different  railroads  centering  here,  was  authorized  by  the 
Council  on  the  20th  of  December,  1848.  There  were  no  lines  yet  constructed  to 
compete  with  the  Madison,  but  several  were  projected,  and  a  common  passenger 
depot  was  so  evidently  indispensable,  that  it  was  devised  as  soon  as  the  connecting 
roads  were. 

The  year  1849  was  little  more  than  the  record  of  promising  but  uneventful 
occurrences.  The  new  life  of  the  town  was  showing  itself  more  and  more  plainly. 
Three  hundred  houses  were  built  during  the  year,  and  the  population  was  estima- 
ted at  6,500.  A  debt  of  $6,000,  incurred  by  the  street  improvements  of  the  preced- 
ing two  years,  was  ordered,  by  a  majority  of  eleven  in  a  vote  of  the  citizens,  to  be 


MEDICAL  COLLEGE— WIDOWS  AND  ORPHANS. 


91 


paid  by  a  special  tax,  which  raised  the  entire  levy  to  forty-five  cents  on  the  hundred 
dollars.  This  was  more  than  had  ever  been  paid,  and  more  than  the  State  tax,  and 
it  caused  a  good  deal  of  dissatisfaction  with  the  city  government.  In  the  April 
election  Horatio  C.  Newcomb  was  elected  Mayor,  in  place  of  Samuel  Henderson. — 
During  the  summer,  Asbury  University  determined  to  assume  something  of  the 
real  character  indicated  by  its  title,  and  established  here  the  Central  Medical  Col- 
lege as  the  medical  division  of  the  University.  It  was  conducted  by  Drs.  Jchn  S. 
Bobbs,  Richard  Curran,  J.  S.  Harrison,  Geoi'ge  W.  Mears,  C.  G.  Downey,  L.  Dun- 
lap,  A.  H.  Baker  and  David  Funkhouser,  and  occupied  a  large  two-story  brick 
buillding  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Washington  arid  Alabama  streets.  Its  first 
session,  from  November  to  March,  was  attended  by  twenty  or  more  students,  and  a 
few  graduates  received  diplomas.  It  continued  some  three  years,  and  added  to  its 
faculty  Prof.  Deming,  of  Lafayette,  who  had  been  quite  as  much  distinguished  as  a 
politician  of  the  Free  Soil  school,  and  as  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  Governor 
in  1846,  as  a  physician.  It  lacked  support. — At  the  preceding  session  of  the  Legis- 
lature a  Court  of  Common  Pleas  was  created  especially  for  Marion  county,  with  a 
jurisdiction  compounded  partly  of  the  probate  business  of  the  old  Probate  Court 
and  partly  of  the  civil  business  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and  Abram  A.  Hammond  was 
made  the  first  Judge,  and  was  also  clerk.  He  was  succeeded  by  Edward  Lander,  who 
held  the  office  till  the  Court  was  abolished  or  superceded  by  a  general  system  of 
Common  Pleas  Courts,  created  in  1852,  under  which  the  Judges  were  elected  by  the 
people.  The  first  was  Levi  L.  Todd,  succeeded  in  the  following  terms  by  Samuel 
Corey,  David  Wallace,  John  Coburn,  Charles  A.  Ray  and  Solomon  Blair. — The 
"Widows  and  Orphans'  Society  was  organized  in  December  of  this  year,  to  make 
provision  for  classes  of  distress  that  the  Benevolent  Society  could  not  reach.  Its 
receipts  for  the  first  year  were  $113.16,  and  its  expenses  $98.30.  It  was  entirely 
dependent  on  private  contributions  for  awhile,  but  has  been  aided  since  by  an 
annual  appropriation  from  the  City  Council.  Allen  May  donated  two  lots  to  the 
Society,  and  they  bought  another  afterwards.  An  asylum  was  built  in  1855,  at  a 
cost  of  §3,000.  Though  starting  with  such  small  means  and  so  little  promise  of 
good  that  few  had  any  confidence  that  it  would  outlive  the  year,  it  has  grown  by 
the  persistent  efforts  of  the  managers,  and  the  evidences  of  its  services,  to  a  mag- 
nitude which  would  m«ke  it  quite  as  difficult  to  dispense  with  it  as  it  would  be  with 
one  of  the  State  Asylums. 

The  year  1850  was  distinguished  by  a  perceptible  but  not  a  dangerous  earth- 
quake on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  April,  and  by  the  visit  of  Gov.  Crittenden  of 
Kentucky,  with  an  extensive  suite,  on  the  28th  of  May.  This,  the  first  official 
visit  of  one  State  Executive  to  another,  was  brought  about  by  an  invitation  of  Gov. 
"Wright,  who  was  desirous  of  drawing  closer  the  bonds  that  connected  the  two 
States,  and  did  his  part  in  the  work  shortly  after  by  marrying  a  Kentucky  lady. — 
The  death  of  President  Taylor  evoked  a  union  funeral  celebration  in  Wesley 
Chapel,  and  an  eulogy  by  Rev.  E.  R.  Ames — The  cholera  was  brought  here  by 
some  German  emigrants,  but  there  was  no  epidemic  or  panic. — The  Christian 
Church,  under  the  influence  of  many  of  its  members  who  lived  north  of  Washing- 
ton street,  having  resolved  to  abandon  the  old  frame  edifice  on  Kentucky  avenue, 
which  was  built  in  1836,  or  thereabouts,  began  their  present  chapel  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  Delaware  and  Ohio  streets.  It  has  since  been  repaired  and  hand- 
somely decorated. — E.  W.  H.  Ellis  and  John  S.  Spann  started  the  Indiana  Statesman 
September  4th,  but  sold  it  out  in  1852  to  the  Sentinel. — During  the  summer  the 
Indiana  Female  College  was  organized,  and  the  school  opened  in  the  building  on 


92  HOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

the  corner  of  Meridian  and  Ohio  streets,  now  known  as  tbe  Pyle  House,  by  Rev. 
Thomas  A.  Lynch.  It  was  suspended  in  1859,  but  resumed  in  1865  in  the  building 
of  the  McLean  Seminary,  and  again  suspended  in  1868,  when  the  premises  were 
purchased  for  the  n3w  "Wesley  Chapel.  It  was  successively  conducted  by  Rev. 
Charles  Adams  G.  W.  Hoss,  B.  H.  Hoyt,  0.  M.  Spencer  and  W.  H.  Demotte  —City 
receipts,  ending  April,  1850,  were  §9,327;  expenses,  $7,554.  The  total  of  taxable 
property  was  assessed  at  $2.326,185;  polls,  1,243;  population,  by  the  census,  8,097 — 
an  increase  of  1,500  in  a  year,  and  of  $300,000  in  value  of  property.  There  were 
25  doctors,  30  lawyers  and  120  industrial  establishments. 


h  a  p  t  £  r 


OAS  COMPANY — STATE   FAIRS — IMPROVEMENTS—VISIT   OF  fcOSSUTH— N.   W.   C.    UNI- 
VERSITY— ODD  FELLOWS'  EALL — THBATRU— ^FREEMAN  CASE— POLICE  FORCE — • 

MISCELLAXKOUS. 

t 

February,  1851,  the  Legislature  chartered,  for  thirty  years,  with  a  capital  ot 
0,  a  company  originated  by  Mr.  John  J.  LookWood,  called  the  '-Indian- 
apolis  Gas  Light  and  Coke  Company."  It  wag  organize''!  on  the  26lh  of  March, 
with  David  V.  Culley  as  President,  Willis  W.  Wright  as  Secretary,  and  H,  V.  Bar- 
ringer  as  Superintendent.  An  ordinance  of  the  City  Council  of  March  3d  gave  the 
company  a  monopoly  of  the  lighting  of  the  streets  and  houses  for  fifteen  years, 
authorized  the  laying  of  pipes  upon  certain  conditions,  and  required  that  the  price 
of  gas  should  not  exceed  that  paid  at  that  time  in  Cincinnati.  Not  much  confidence 
was  felt  by  the  public  in  the  success  of  the  company  at  first,  and  not  much  waa 
done  to  deserve  it.  The  works  were  defective,  the  officers  inexperienced,  and  the 
city  by  a  popular  vote  refused  to  light  the  streets.  The  present  location  of  the 
works,  on  Pennsylvania  street,  on  the  south  aide  of  the  creek,  was  that  first  selected, 
and  dui ing  the  fall  the  necessary  buildings  and  apparatus  to  make  a  beginning 
were  erected,  and  got  ready  for  use  in  December.  Mains  were  laid  on  Pennsylva- 
nia and  Washington  streets,  and  on  the  10th  of  January  gas  was  turned  on  for  the 
first  time,  except  that  Ma-onic  Hall  had  previously  had  a  private  gas  apparatus, 
By  the  following  April  about  a  mile  and  a  half  of  pipe  had  been  laid,  and  116  con- 
sumers with  675  burners  had  been  obtained  as  patrons.  This  was  not  a  flattering 
commencement,  and  the  lack  of  city  patronage  for  street  lights,  which  is  always  a 
large  source  of  the  profit,  made  it  worse.  It  was  not  till  the  fall  of  1853  that  street 
lamps  were  erected  on  Washington  street  between  Meridian  and  Pennsylvania,  and 
even  then  they  were  supported  at  the  expense  of  the  property  owners.  In  the  early 
part  of  1854  several  squares  of  Washington  street,  and  portions  of  adjacent  streets, 
were  first  lighted  by  contract  with  the  Council,  made  in  the  preceding  December, 
Gradual  additions  were  made  to  the  number  of  street  lights,  but  not  enough  to  em- 
brace more  than  the  most  central  and  busiest  portions  of  the  city,  and,  therefore, 
those  leas;,  likely  to  need  their  protection,  till  1858-9.  Then  the  policy  of  spread- 
ing the  lights  as  widely  and  rapidly  as  practicable  was  adopted,  and  in  1860  eight 
and  a  half  miles  were  lighted.  At  this  time  there  can  not  be  much  less  than  forty 
miles  of  lamps.  The  posts  were  at  first  disposed  with  little  regularity,  but  in  1859 
it  was  ordered  that  there  should  be  four  to  each  square,  one  on  each  opposite  corner, 
the  others  placed  at  equal  distances  between  them.  Since  the  addition  of  street 
lights  to  the  patronage  of  the  Gas  Company  it  has  prospered  greatly.  It  began 
with  $20,000  capital,  erected  its  first  buildings  at  a  cost  of  $27,000,  and  finding 
them  defective,  rebuilt  them  in  1856  at  a  further  cost  of  $30,000.  In  1860,  when 
the  street-lighting  policy  began  to  show  its  effects  fully,  the  new  works  were  found 
inadequate  and  Were  rebuilt  and  enlarged  to  meet  the  demand.  It  began  with  one 


94  HOLLOWATb'  1NDIAXAPOLIS. 

gas  reservoir  of  20,000  feet  capacity.  It  added  a  second  of  75,000  in  1860,  and 
there  not  being  enough  in  1863  one  of  300,000  and  costing  $126,000  was  built  on 
Delaware  street.  Jn  1868  a  handsome  three-story  brick  was  built  for  the  office  of 
the  Company  on  the  south  corner  of  the  old  Branch  Bank  lot  on  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania  streets,  and  during  the  past  summer  another  large  addition  was  made 
to  the  milks.  Its  capital  has  grown  from  $20,000  to  §500,000,  but  it  has  expended 
its  dividends  mainly  on  its  works.  It  consumes  800  bushels  of  coal  per  d«y,  and 
produces  about  200,000  feet  of  gas.  Its  Presidents  have  been  David  V.  Culley, 
David  S.  Beatty,  Edwin  J.  Peck,  and  Stoughton  A.  Fletcher.  Its  Superintend- 
ents, H.  V.  Barringer,  C.  Brown,  E.  Bailey,  and  EL  E.  Stacey. 

The  expiration  in  1866  of  the  fifteen  years'  charter  given  by  the  city  in  1851, 
opened  the  way  for  a  controversy  between  the  Council  and  the  Gas  Company  which 
was  not  finally  settled  till  1858.  As  both  sides  had  active  and  earnest  partisans, 
and  it  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  sketch  to  take  sides  with  either,  it  will  be  sufficient 
to  state  the  steps  in  its  rise  and  settlement  briefly.  On  the  expiration  of  the  charter 
the  Council  gave  notice  that  bids  would  be  received  fjr  lighting  the  city  for  the  en- 
suing twenty  years.  The  Gas  Company  proposed  to  supply  both  city  and  citizens 
for  $3  48  per  tho  isand  feet,  and  clean  the  street  lamps  for  $5  48  each  per  year.  (It 
had  previously  charged  $4  50  per  thousand  feet,  and  §20  per  year  for  each  lamp,  and 
§8  44  for  lighting  and  cleaning  )  It  also  claimed  the  monopoly  of  supplying 
private  consumers  under  the  Legislative  charter  for  five  years  longer.  This  was 
the  only  bid  received,  and  the  Council  rejected  it,  and  disallowed  the  claim  to  mo- 
nopolize the  gas  supply,  but  made  a  counter  proposition  that  the  Company  should 
supply  private  consumers  at  $3  per  thousand  feet,  and  the  street  lamps  at  $28  80 
each,  the  city  to  do  the  lighting  and  cleaning.  Nothing  came  of  this,  and  it  was 
then  proposed  to  capitalize  the  Company's  property  at  §350.000,  the  city  to  have 
half  the  profits  above  16  per  cent,,  and  continue  the  arrangement  twenty  years. 
The  Company  rejected  this,  but  proposed  to  furnish  gas  to  tho  city  or  citizens  at 
$3  75  per  thousand  feet.  This  was  not  accepted,  and  in  the  spring  of  1867  a  rival 
company,  called  the  ''Citizens'  Gas  Light  and  Coke  Company,"  formed  by  11.  B. 
Catherwood  &  Co.,  of  street  railroad  celebrity,  made  a  proposal  to  take  the  charter 
for  thirty  years,  and  furnish  gas  at  $3  per  thousand  feet,  the  city  to  contest  the  mo- 
nopoly claim  of  the  other  Company.  An  ordinance  embodying  nnd  modifying  these 
terms,  and  holding  the  works  subject  to  purchase  by  the  <:ity  after  ten  years,  was 
proposed  on  the  12th  if  March,  1867,  and  brought  from  the  old  Company  a  propo- 
sition to  furnish  gas  tor  twenty  years  at  §3  per  thousand  feet,  with  a  number  of 
minor  provisions,  and  this  was  accepted,  and  the  old  Company  re-chartered  for 
twenty  years  from  the  4th  of  March,  1867.  But  the  controversy  was  not  ended. 
It  was  soon  found,  or  alleged,  that  the  city  was  paying  for  fifteen  or  twenty  street 
lamps  more  than  existed,  and  paying  for  them  whether  lighted  or  not,  and  that  the 
Gas  Company  was  making  the  expense  at  $3  per  thousand  feet  luavier  than  it  was 
before.  This  produced  a  renewal  of  the  difficulty,  which  was  ended,  finally,  in  the 
spring  of  1868,  by  thi  election  of  a  Gas  Inspector,  George  II.  Fleming,  whose  duty 
it  is  to  see  to  the  supply  and  quality  of  gas,  and  the  interests  of  the  city  generally 
in  regard  to  its  gas.  The  cost  of  the  city  supply  has  been  greatly  reduced,  and  the 
lighting  generally  wdl  attended  to. 

The  organization  and  chartering  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  mainly 
under  the  inspiration  of  Gov.  Wright,  on  the  I4tb  of  February,  1851,  though  prop- 
erly an  affair  of  State  rather  than  city  interest,  is  yet  too  nearly  identified  with  the 
development  of  the  city  to  be  overlooked.  It  has  done  something  to  encourage 


STATE  FAIR-EXPLOSION. 


95 


manufacturing  by  displaying  our  manufactures  advantageously;  hag  done  quite  as 
much,  probably,  by  exhibiting  the  condition  and  improvements  of  the  city  to  the 
tens  of  thousands  of  visitors  annually  attracted  by  its  fairs  ;  and  has  done  more 
still  by  swelling  our  trade,  as  well  as  advertising  it.  Gov.  Wright  was  the  first 
President,  and  has  been  suceedeu  by  General  Joseph  Orr,  A.  C.  Stevenson,  Geo.  D. 
Wagner,  David  P.  Hollo  way,  J.  D.  Williams,  Stearns  Fisher  and  A.  D.  Hamrick. 
The  Secretaries  have  been  John  B.  Dillon,  W.  T.  Dennis,  Ignatius  Brown,  W.  H. 
Loomis,  A.  J.  Holmes  and  Fielding  Beeler.  The  Fairs,  which  have  formed  pretty 
much  all  the  business  of  the  Board,  have  been  generally  held  here,  with  enough 
diversion  to  other  points  to  demonstrate  the  advantages  of  our  central  location  and 
railroad  connections.  Here,  they  were  held  on  the  Military  Ground,  which  had 
been  prepared  by  a  high  fence,  and  suitable  "halls"  or  sheds,  stalls,  and  other 
appliances,  till  1860,  when  a  large  and  beautiful  grove  north  of  the  city,  and  clear 
beyond  its  limits  at  that  time,  was  bought  and  fitted  up,  not  handsomely,  but  so 
expensively,  that  what  with  the  cost,  the  falling  off  in  the  interest  in  fairs  during 
the  war.  the  occupancy  of  the  new  grounds  by  the  Government  as  a  volunteer  and 
prison  camp,  and  the  necessity  of  removing  to  the  old  ground,  the  Board  was  left 
with  a  debt  on  its  hands  which  embarrassed  it  for  several  years.  Since  the  close  of 
the  war,  these  [the  Camp  Morton]  grounds  have  been  reopened  and  refitted  in  excel- 
lent style,  and  during  the  fall  of  the  present  year  [1870],  the  fairs  both  of  the  Indi- 
anapolis Association  and  the  State  Board,  have  been  successfully  held  there.  Its 
occupation  as  a  prison  camp  during  the  war  injured  it  greatly  by  causing  the 
destruction  of  nearly  all  its  superb  trees.  The  General  Government  has,  how- 
ever, made  some,  if  not  full,  compensation  for  these  injuries.  Fairs  held  at  other 
points  have  either  occupied  the  grounds  of  County  Associations  or  been  provided 
for  by  the  citizens  in  consideration  of  the  supposed  benefit  of  having  their  town 
overrun  by  crowds  for  four  or  five  days.  The  first  was  held  for  six  days,  in  October 
19 — 25,  1852,  on  the  Military  ground,  and  was  very  successful,  the  entries  amount- 
ing to  1,365.  The  fair  of  1853  was  held  at  Lafayette,  and  as  an  additional  attrac- 
tion, Horace  Greeiey  was  obtained  to  deliver  an  address.  Still  it  was  not  so 
successful  as  to  warrant  any  strong  hopes  from  the  policy  ^f  making  the  fairs 
peripatetic.  But  the  larger  towns  were  indisposed  to  concede  any  advantages  to 
the  Capital,  which  they  considered  their  rival,  and  demanded,  as  a  right,  that  the 
"show"  should  come  round  to  all  of  them  in  turn.  The  State  Board  decided  to 
hold  it  here  one  year  out  of  every  three,  as  a  compromise  between  the  blind  impor- 
tunacy  of  other  towns  and  its  own  interests,  and  it  accordingly  went  to  Madison  in 
October,  1854.  There  its  failure  was  so  conspicuous  and  dismal  that  the  Board 
brought  it  back,  not  only  in  accordance  with  their  rule,  but  with  the  determination 
to  keep  it  here.  In  1855,  1856,  1857  and  1853  it  was  held  here  with  decided  sue 
cess,  especially  in  1856  and  1857,  when  the  receipts  rose  to  $13,000  and  §14,600 
respectively.  In  1859  the  Board  was  forced  into  traveling  again,  and  took  the 
fair  to  New  Albany.  The  receipts  fell  off  to  $8,000.  It  was  decided  to  stop  the 
traveling  business  and  locate  the  fair  permanently  hure,  and  here  it  remained  through 
I860— the  war  prevented  it  in  1861 — 1862,  1863,  1864.  In  1865  it  was  taken  to 
Fort  Wayne,  where  it  was  quite  successful— came  back  in  1866,  and  went  to  Terre 
Haute  in  1867.  The  fair  of  1869,  here,  was  marked  by  a  horrible  catastrophe.  Two  saw 
mills  were  running  a  race  on  Friday,  the  first  day  of  October,  taking  their  power 
from  the  boiler  in  "Power  Hall,"  and,  through  the  culpable  negligence  or  interest 
of  the  engineer,  it  was  allowed  to  become  red.hot,  and  exploded,  killing  and  wound- 
ing nearly  one  hundred  people.  The  disaster  would  have  been  far  more  terrible  if 


90  HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

the  great  bulk  of  the  crowd  had  not  been  drawn,  at  the  time,  to  the  "horse 
ring,"  to  witness  the  trials  of  speed.  As  it  was,  it  spread  a  gloom  over  the  city 
exceeding  any  ever  known  in  its  history,  and  incited  to  the  most  earnest  effort 
to  provide  for  those  who  were  dependent  on  the  dead  or  helpless,  or  were  too  poor 
to  secure  proper  assistance  for  themselves.  A  large  amount  of  money  was  sub- 
scribed, and  a  committee  of  prominent  citizens  appointed  to  distribute  it.  A  great 
deal  of  good  was  done  by  this  movement,  and  it  is  but  fair  to  state  that  the  firm  by 
which  the  ruinous  boiler  was  made  contributed  with  marked  and  prompt  liberal- 
ity. 

At  the  election,  in  April,  1851,  H.  C.  Newcomb  was  re-elected  Mayor,  but  re- 
signed in  November,  and  the  Council  placed  Caleb  Scudder  in  the  vacancy.— A  spe- 
cial tax  of  five  cents  on  the  hundred  dollars  was,  at  the  same  election,  ordered  for 
the  Fire  Department. — Another  election  was  held  in  September  to  decide  the  ques- 
tion of  lighting  Washington  street  with  gas,  and  procuring  a  town  clock.  The  first  was 
lost,  the  other  carried,  and  a  clock  was  made  by  John  Moffatt,  for  $1200,  in  1853, 
which  was  placed  in  the  steeple  of  Roberts'  Chapel  in  1854,  where  it  remained, 
sometimes  serviceable,  and  sometimes  not,  till  1868,  when  it  was  removed,  and  since 
then  the  city  has  had  no  public  timepiece. — John  B.  Gough  lectured  in  Masonic 
Hall,  in  May,  on  Temperance,  the  only  topic  he  ever  handled  with  marked  ability 
or  effect.  The  Hall  was  crowded  constantly,  and  his  last  lecture,  on  a  Sunday 
night,  filled  the  street  about  the  Hall  for  a  considerable  time  before  sunset. — A 
hurricane  caused  a  good  deal  of  destruction  on  the  16th  of  May,  and  was  followed, 
on  the  22d,  by  a  devastating  hail  storm. — Gov.  Wood,  of  Ohio,  paid  Gov.  Wright 
an  official  visit  on  the  28th. — The  Adams  Express  Company  opened  the  first  express 
oiBce  here  in  September  of  this  year,  with  Messrs.  Blythe  &  Holland  as  the  first 
agents,  succeeded  soon  by  Charles  Woodward,  and  he  by  John  H.  Ohr. — A  Com- 
mercial College  was  commenced  this  year,  in  the  building  on  the  alley  south  side 
of  Washington  street,  between  Illinois  and  Meridian,  by  W.  McK.  Scott.  An 
abortiveReading  Room  was  attempted  by  the  same  man. — The  County  Agricultural 
Society  was  organized  in  August,  and  held  a  fair  in  October. — A  secession  of 
twenty-two  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  on  the  23d  of  September, 
led  to  the  organization  of  the  Third  Presbyterian  Church,  with  Rev.  David  Ste- 
phenson  as  pastor.  A  building  was  begun  in  1852,  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
Illinois  and  Ohio  streets,  and  finished  by  slow  degrees,  so  far  as  to  allow  the  occu- 
pancy of  the  basement  in  1859.  The  congregation  in  the  meanwhile  used  College 
and  Temperance  Halls.  Rev's.  George  E.  Heckman  and  Robert  Sloss  have  since 
been  pastors. — The  Church  of  the  United  Brethren,  corner  of  New  Jersey  and 
Ohio  streets,  was  begun  this  year  and  completed  in  1852. — Madame  Bishop,  and 
Bochsa  the  celebrated  harpist  and  pianist,  gave  the  first  first-class  concert  we  had 
ever  had,  in  Masonic  Hall,  on  the  24th  of  May,  to  a  delighted  but  not  altogether 
appreciative  audience.  We  did  not  know  much  of  operatic  beauties  in  those  days. — 
An  attempt  was  made  to  hold  noon  instead  of  morning  markets,  but  it  failed. — 
The  city  was  making  progress  during  this  year.  Charles  Mayer  built  his  iron- 
front  house,  the  first  in  the  city.  We  had  two  foundries,  three  machine  shops  and 
a  boiler  shop  at  work,  fifty  steam  engines  had  been  built,  and  Hasselman  &  Vin- 
ton  had  commenced  making  thrashing  machines  at  their  establishment.  City 
receipts  were  $10,515,  debt  $5,407,  school  fund  $6,199,  expenses  $5,935. 

The  most  marked  feature  of  the  year  1852  was  the  increasing  activity  of  rail- 
road business,  and  the  rapid  growth  of  enduring  improvements  induced  by  it.  So 
closely  were  these  already  identified  that  it  required  little  sagacity  to  see  that  what- 


IMPROVEMENTS—  VISIT  OF  KOSSUTH.  Qy 

ever  might  be  the  prospects  of  a  new  railroad  to  terminate  here,  it  would  never  be 
unwise  for  the  citizens  to  encourage  it.  The  Madison  road  was  in  the  full  tide  of 
prosperity.  The  Bellefontaine  road  was  opened  to  the  State  line  in  November,  and 
had  already  sent  its  share  of  activity  ahead  of  it  in  the  shops  and  depot  erected  in 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  city.  The  Cincinnati  road  was  approaching  comple- 
tion. The  Jeffersonville  road  had  been  built  to  Edinburg,  within  railroad  reach  of 
us.  The  Terre  Haute  road  was  completed  in  May.  The  Peru  road  had  been  com- 
pleted, with  a  flat  rail,  to  Noblesville.  The  Lafayette  road  was  completed  in 
December.  The  Central  had  commenced  laying  track.  The  Union  Track,  connect- 
ing all  these,  had  been  completed,  and  the  Union  Depot  built.  We  were  beginning 
to  feel  our  importance  as  a  Kailroad  center,  and  exhibited  our  conceit  in  such  sen- 
sible forms  as  new  hotels,  manufactures  and  business  houses.  The  Bates  House,  the 
largest — subsequently  greatly  enlarged — hotel  in  the  city,  was  built;  also  the  Mor- 
ris, now  Sherman,  House,  opposite  the  Union  Depot — enlarged  to  three  times  its 
original  size  a  few  years  ago.  The  Washington  Foundry  was  enlarged,  and  Osgood 
&  Smith's  Peg  and  Last  Factory,  Geisendorff's  woolen  mill,  Drew's  carriage  estab- 
lishment, Shellenbarger's  planing  mill,  Macy's  pork  house,  Blake's  block,  Black- 
ford's  first  building  on  Meridian  street,  McLean's  Female  Seminary,  school  houses 
and  Railroad  shops,  with  many  other  buildings,  were  added  to  our  improvements. 
It  was  a  busy,  bustling  year,  and  saw  the  beginning  of  more  than  one  establish- 
ment which  has  since  made  the  fortunes  of  its  founders. 

But  ttye  very  beginning  of  it  also  saw  the  most  disastrous  fire  which,  up  to  that 
time,  had  afflicted  the  city.  East  of  the  Capital  House — sicce  known  as  the  Senti- 
nel building — was  a  block  of  old  buildings,  by  no  means  valuable,  but  filled  with 
valuable  business — extending  to  the  alley,  and  on  the  night  of  the  10th  of  January 
it  was  burned  to  the  ground.  Among  other  items  of  destruction  were  the  city 
records,  in  the  City  Treasurer's  office.  There  were  suspicions  of  incendiarism  enter- 
tained at  the  time,  aud  the  insurance  of  one  of  the  sufferers  was  contested  by  the 
Company  on  the  ground  that  the  fire  was  his  own  work,  but  the  jury  thought  other- 
wise. A  number  of  lawyers  and  doctors,  who  had  their  offices  in  the  second  story 
were  emptied  into  the  street  by  this  catastrophe. 

On  the  invitation  of  the  Legislature,  particularly  urged  by  Gov.  "Wright,  Kos- 
suth,  the  Hungarian  hero  and  orator,  visited  the  city  on  the  27th  of  February.  A 
committee  of  fifty  citizens  had  been  appointed  at  a  public  meeting,  a  few  weeks 
before,  to  receive  him,  and  they  went  to  Cincinnati  on  the  26th  for  that  purpose. 
They  accompanied  him  up,  coming  by  way  of  Madison,  and  were  received  at  the 
Madison  depot  by  an  immense  crowd,  who  were  at  first  full  of  adoration,  but  find- 
ing that  the  Hungarian  troubled  himself  very  little  about  them,  and  one  of  his 
suite  kicking  a  little  boy  out  of  his  way  rather  roughly,  they  changed  their  note 
and  were  not  indisposed  to  think  him  a  humbug.  Ex-Mayor  Newcomb  made  a 
speech  to  him  in  behalf  of  the  city,  and  he  was  then  escorted  by  a  large  proces- 
sion to  the  State  House  Square,  where  Gov.  Wright  made  another  speech  in  behalf 
of  the  State.  He  replied  in  one  of  those  wonderful  efforts  which  commanded  the 
admiration  of  all  intelligent  men,  and  was  then  escorted  to  the  Capital  House, 
where  he  and  his  suite  were  quartered  at  the  expense  of  the  city.  He  had  a 
"levee"  at  the  Governor's  at  night,  and  was  introduced  to  the  Legislature  next 
day.  On  Sunday  he  visited  Roberts'  Chapel  and  several  Sunday  schools,  and  on 
Monday  night  delivered  an  address  or  lecture  at  Masonic  Hall,  before  an  associa- 
tion of  Hungarian  sympathizers.  His  principal  object  was  to  collect  money  to 
recover  Hungary,  a  wild  scheme  which  met  little  encouragement,  though  his  talents 
CO 


93  .  SOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

and  misfortunes  commanded  a  wide  and  generous  sympathy.  He  took  away  about 
51,000,  chiefly  paid  for  his  "Hungarian  notes,"  as  keepsakes.  Kossuth  medals  were 
sold  in  all  the  stores,  and  worn  by  everybody,  but  the  Irish.  Kossuth  hats  became 
the  "rage,"  and  for  once  the  fashion  was  sensible.  But  this  popularity  was  clouded 
by  two  circumstances:  The  Kossuth  suite  at  the  Capital  House  behaved  with  very 
considerable  insolence,  and  ran  up  an  enormous  liquor  bill;  and  the  Irish  cordially 
hated  him,  so  cordially,  indeed,  that  the  Democratic  convention  .following  this 
event  came  near  quarrelling  seriously  about  him.  He  left  on  Tuesday,  after  a  visit 
of  four  days. 

During  the  summer  the  McLean  Female  Seminary  was  built  by  Dr.  C.  G. 
McLean,  corner  of  Meridian  and  New  York  streets — a  large  and  handsome  three- 
story  brick — and  opened  for  pupils  in  September.  It  had  one  hundred  and  fifty 
the  first  year.  When  Dr.  McLean  died,  in  1860,  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Prof. 
C.  N.  Todd,  who  maintained  its  high  reputation  and  success  till  1865,  when  it  was 
discontinued  and  the  property  'sold,  as  before  noticed,  to  the  Indiana  Female  Col- 
lege, which,  after  three  years,  sold  it  to  the  Wesley  Chapel  congregation,  who  have 
erected  a  magnificent  church  edifice  upon  the  ground. 

A  balloon  ascension  was  made  on  the  29th  of  July — the  first  ever  witnessed 
here — by  Mr.  William  Paullin.  He  was  brought  here  by  the  enterprise  of  Mr.  J\ 
H.  McKernan,  but  proved  a  bad  speculation,  though  his  ascension  was  fine,  because 
the  crowd  could  see  all  they  cared  to  outside  the  enclosure  erected  round  the  State 
House  Square — where  he  "went  up" — and  wouldn't  pay.  There  was  a  display  of 
fire-works  at  night.  Several  ascensions  have  since  been  made. 

The  Northwestern  Christian  University,  the  first  and  only  successful  attempt 
at  the  establishment  of  a  regular  collegiate  institution  in  the  city,  was  chartered 
by  the  Legislature  in  February,  1852.  Stock  taken  on  the  "scholarship"  plan  by 
solicitors  during  the  preceding  year,  to  the  amount  of  $75,000,  was  reported  on  the 
22d  of  June,  and  on  the  14th  of  July  a  Directory  of  twenty-one  members  was 
appointed,  with  Ovid  Butler,  the  founder,  manager  and  constant  benefactor  of  the 
institution,  as  President.  A  beautiful  grove  adjacent  to  Mr.  Butler's  residence,  in 
the  extreme  northeastern  part  of  the  city,  was  donated  by  him  as  a  site,  and  a  plan  of 
birildlng,  devised  by  Mr.  Tinsley,  was  adopted.  This  plan  allowed  the  construction 
of  the  edifice  in  sections,  each  complete  in  itself,  but  capable  of  being  united  with 
the  others  when  necessary.  The  style  is  Gothic,  though  not  pure  Gothic,  but  it 
makes  a  very  handsome  structure,  which  instantly  commands  the  attention  of  the 
visitor  in  that  quarter  of  the  city.  The  west  wing  was  built  in  1854-5,  at  a  cost  of 
$27,000.  No  addition  has  yet  been  made,  though  the  growth  of  the  institution 
will  soon  make  it  necessary.  It  was  dedicated  on  the  1st  of  November,  1855,  by  suita- 
ble ceremonies  and  an  address  by  Horace  Mann.  Its  first  "  Faculty  "  was  composed 
of  Hon.  John  Young,  Kev.  Allen  R.  Benton  and  Mr.  James  R.  Challen.  Its  Presi- 
dents have  been.  Hon.  John  Young,  Samuel  K.  Hoshour,  Allen  R.  Benton,  O.  A. 
Burgess,  and  recently  Prof.  Benton  again.  Its  peculiarity  is  that  it  admits  female 
pupils  upon  the  same  terms  to  the  same  classes  as  the  males,  and  its  remarkable 
success  is  a  vindication  of  the  wisdom  of  the  plan.  In  1869  Miss  Kate  Merrill,  a 
lady  of  distinguished  ability  as  a  teacher,  was  elected  to  a  regular  chair,  and  the 
novel  step  has  proved  all  that  its  advocates  could  wish.  Within  a  year  past  Mr. 
Butler,  to  whom  the  University  is  indebted  for  its  conception  and  existence,  as  well 
as  its  best  support,  has  donated  §10,000  more,  to  establish  the  "  Demi  a  Butler" 
Chair.  During  the  present  year  there  are  about  300  students  in  attendance. 

The  beginning  of  the  year  1353  is  memorable,  or  should  be,  among  a  large 


ODD  FELLOWS'  HALL— CITY  QOVfSNMSHT. 


99 


class  of  our  citizens,  as  the  time  which  witnessed  the  permanent  establishment  of 
theatrical  amusements  here.  Since  then  we  have  never  been  without  a  theatre 
"during  the  season."  F.  W.  Robinson,  better  known  as  "Yankee"  Robinson, 
whose  skill  as  an  advertiser  and  showman  far  exceeded  his  skill  as  an  actor,  after 
" operating"  as  a  "side-show"  to  the  first  State  Fair,  in  the  fashion  of  English 
"strolling  theatres,"  came  back  during  the  winter  with  his  company,  and  opened 
in  Washington  Hall,  on  tho  21st  of  January.  He  had  a  fair  company,  and  did  so 
good  a  business  that  the  next  winter  he  fitted  up  the  third  story  of  Elliott's  new 
building  on  the  corner  of  Maryland  and  Meridian  streets  as  a  theatre,  called  it  the 
"  Atheneum,"  and  renewed  his  performances  on  a  larger  scale.  A  detailed  notice 
of  the  theatres  of  the  city  will  be  made  in  another  place. 

Following  the  example  of  the  Free  Masons,  the  Odd  Fellows,  this  year,  took 
steps  to  provide  themselves  with  a  Grand  Lodge  Hall.  They  procured  Lodge  and 
individual  subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  §45,000,  bought  the  northeast  corner  of 
"Washington  and  Meridian  streets  for  §17,000,  and  erected,  during  the  two  follow- 
ing years,  at  a  cost  of  $30,000,  a  building  planned  by  Francis  Costigan,  and  fin- 
ished with  a  dome  by  D.  A.  Bohlen,  which  Mr.  Brown  caustically  says  "  is  proba- 
bly unlike  any  other  on  earth."  Its  style  is  certainly  nondescript,  a  sort  of  cross 
between  a  Gothic  chapel  and  the  Taj  Mehal,  but  it  is  the  most  attractive  building  on 
Washington  street  for  all  that.  The  ground  floor  rents  for  a  handsome  interest  on 
the  cost,  in  a  bank  and  other  business  houses,  and  the  second  story  is  rented  for 
ofEces;  only  the  third  is  used  for  Lodge  purposes.  It  was  dedicated  on  tho  21st  of " 
May,  1856.  A  notice  of  the  city  Lodges,  both  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  Free  Masons, 
is  appended  to  the  general  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  city. 

In  March  the  City  Council  substituted  the  general  charter  act  for  our  special ' 
charter  of  1847,  which  limited  taxes  for  city  purposes  to  fifteen  cents  on  the  bun- 
dred  dollars.     The  revenue  yielded  by  so  slender  a  source  was  inadequate  to  the 
rapidly  growing  needs  of  a  rapidly  developing  city,  and  the  change  was  necessary. 
It  was  retained  till  1857.     It  made  elections  annual,  and  fixed  them  in  May,  and 
allowed  more  liberty  of  taxation.     The  first  election  under  the  new  law  was  held, 
on  the  3d  of  May,  when  1,450  votes  were  cast.     Caleb  Scudder  was  elected  Mayor,. 
Daniel  B.  Culley,  Clerk;  A.  F.  Shortridge,  Treasurer;   M.  Little,  Assessor;  Benja- 
min Pilbean,  Marshal;  N.  B.  Taylor,  Attorney;  Wm.   Hughey,  Street  Commis- 
sioner; James  Wood,  Engineer.     On  the  6th  of  May,  at  their  first  meeting,   the  • 
new  Council  created  the  office  of  Fire  Engineer,  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  all  the, 
engine  companies  under  such  government  as  would  enable  them  to  work  together  • 
and  to  advantage.     Joseph  Littlo  was  appointed  Engineer.     The  receipts  for  the  • 
year  were  $10,905;  expenses,  §7,030.     The  fire  tax  amounted  to  §2,093,  the  expen-- 
ses  to  $1,018;  clock   tax  to   $105;   schools,  §6,745;  expenses-  for   houses,  §6,458 
Five  fire  cisterns  had  been  built,  five  were  in  progress,  and  six  had  been  located. 
The  Council  Chamber  was  removed  from  Hubbard's  block  to  the  opposite  building, 
where  it  remained  till  it  was  removed  to  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  then  newly  finished, 
in  1855.     The  city  assessment  showed  §5,131,682  of  taxables,  of  which  §1,239,507 
were  personal,  and  §3,891,875  real  property.     Of  "heavy'  tax  payers  we  had  35  > 
who  paid  upon  more  than  $20,000,  and  59  upon  §10,000  to  §20,000.     The  assess- 
ment of  1850  was  §2,326,185.     That  of  1853  shows  that  the  value  of  city  property 
had  doubled,  and  a  little  more,  in  three  years,  though  the  polls  had  increased  only 
from  1,248  to  1,462,     Property  was  "going  up,"  not  because  there  was  twice  as 
much  of  it,  but  because  what  there  was  was  held  at  higher  figures.     Besides  making  - 
a  Fire  Engineer,  the  Council  created  a  Deputy  for  the  Marshal,  and  fixed  the  sala- 


100  HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

ries  of  the  officers  as  follows:  Mayor,  $600;  Clerk,  $600;  Marshal  $500;  Engi- 
neer, $800;  Street  Commissioner,  §400;  Clerk  of  Markets,  $350;  Sexton,  $80, 
Deputy  Marshal,  $400;  Councilmen,  $2  for  each  meeting. 

The  "Old  Settlers"  held  a  meeting  in  the  State  House  on  the  31st  of  January, 
to  recall  "old  times,"  and  meetings  were  held  annually  thereafter,  sometimes  at 

•Calvin  Fletcher's  and  sometimes  at  James  Blake's,  till  1860.  That  of  1855,  held  at 
Mr.  Fletcher's,  was  reported  at  great  length  in  the  Journal  of  the  next  day,  and 
made  these  assemblages  much  better  known  generally  than  they  had  been  before. 
They  were  discontinued  when  the  war  broke  out,  and  remained  so  till  this  past  sum- 
mer [1870],  when  a  meeting  was  held  on  the  7th  of  June  to  commemorate  the 

^fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  selection  of  the  site  of  the  Capital. — The  Fourth  Pres- 
byterian church,  corner  of  Delaware  and  Market  streets,  a  colony  of  the  Second 

'[Beecher's]  church,  was  commenced  this  year,  and  completed  in  1854  so  far  as  to 
allow  of  its  occupancy. 

The  arrest,  May  21st,  of  John  Freeman,  a  colored  man,  a  whitewasher  by  trade, 

•who  had  been  a  resident  of  the  city  for  a  number  of  years,  and  was  known  as  an 
unusually  quiet  and  deserving  man,  as  a  slave  under  the  Fugitive  Slave  Act,  crea- 

rted  the  most  intense  excitement  that  had  ever  been  witnessed  in  the  city.     He  was 

•claimed  by  a  Georgia  planter  named  Pleasant  Ellington,  and  as  oath  was  made  to 
his  identity,  Justice  Sullivan,  acting  as  United  Stales  Commissioner,  had  really 
DO  alternative  but  to  surrender  him.  The  alleged  slave  was  permitted  to  prove  his 

ifreedom,  if  he  could,  only  after  he  was  taken  back  to  the  State  whence  he  was  said 
to  have  escaped.  His  claimants  insisted  on  taking  him.  They  were  armed,  and 

'ready  for  resistance.  But  his  attorneys  claimed  that  they  could  prove  that  he  was 
a  free  man,  really,  and  demanded  time  to  produce  witnesses.  The  streets  were 
thronged  with  a  fierce  and  resolute  crowd  while  this  controversy  was  going  on.  All 
the  enginery  of  the  law  was  set  in  motion  to  gain  time,  backed  by  a  singular  una- 
nimity of  public  feeling.  If  an  attempt  had  been  made  to  take  him,  as  the  United 
States  Marshal  wanted  to  do,  without  giving  him  a  chance  to  prove  the  falsity  of 

•the  claim  against  him,  there  would1  have  been  an  ugly  fight,  and  a  rescue.  The 
case  was  postponed,  however,  and  Freeman,  after  lying  three  months  in  jail,  while 

^General  Coburn,  one  of  his  counsel,  went  South  for  proof,  had  the  tardy  justice 
done  him  of  being  released  on  the  27th  of  August.  Several  planters,  who  knew 
him  well,  came  up  from  Georgia  and  swore  to  his  having  been  a  free  man,  and  the 
'  -case  was  ended,  and  he  was  forgiven  by  the  Fugitive  Slave  Act  for  Mr.  Ellington's 
perjury.  The  presence  of  the  planters,  and  the  public  interest  in  the  case,  caused 
a  meeting  of  congratulation  to  be  called  at  Masonic  Hall,  where  some  very  savage 
speeches,  of  an  "abolition"  tendency,  were  made.  Ellington  was  indicted  for  per- 
jury, and  sued  for  damages,  but  nothing  ever  came  of  it. 

The  excitement  in  this  case  was  never  equalled,  except,  possibly,  in  another 
negro  affair  of  a  different  character,  about  the  year  1838,  and  that  was  among  a 

•  different  class  of  people.     A  young  lady  organist   for  the  Episcopal  church — the 
first,  probably,  who  held  that  position — overcome  by  the  fascinations  of  a  hand- 
some  mulatto,  married   him.     The  news   got   abroad   among    the  rowdies,  and   a 

•  crowd  of  them  attacked  the  house  where  she  and  her  husband  were  lodged,  drag- 
rged  them  out,  tarred  and  feathered  him,  rode  him  on  a  rail  and  ducked  him  in  the 

river,  and  abused  her,  though  not  so  severely.  Both  were  driven  out  of  the  town. 
'This  created  an  intense  excitement  for  a  few  days.  Some  of  the  ringleaders  became 
frightened  at  what  they  had  done,  and  left  fjr  parts  unknown,  whence  they  have 
never,  openly  at  least,  emerged. 


TEMPERANCE— CITY  POLICE. 


101 


Appropos  of  excitements  it  ,may  be  noticed  here  that  a  strong  temperance 
excitement  was  aroused  in  the  summer  of  this  year,  and  more  general  feeling 
enlisted  than,  probably,  at  any  former  time.  Street  speeches  were  frequent  and 
fervent,  and  the  fronts  of  saloons  were  often  chosen  for  them.  In  September  a 
committee  waited  on  the  saloon  keepers,  and  found  that  a  large  majority  of  the 
forty-four  then  in  the  business  had  expressed  a  willingness  to  quit  it.  But  they 
did  not,  till  the  Maine  law,  in  1855,  forced  them  to  do  it,  and  that  did  not  stop  them 
long. — Two  conventions  of  brass  bands  from  different  parts  of  the  State  were  held 
during  the  year,  one  the  22d  of  February,  under  the  lead  of  G.  B.  Downie,  the 
other  November  29th,  under  C.  W.  Cottom. — An  attempt  to  establish  an  omnibus 
line  from  the  Union  Depot  and  on  Washington  street,  was  made  this  summer  by 
Charles  Garner  and  George  Plant,  but  failed. — A  large  fire  destroyed  all  the  stables 
on  Maryland  street  in  the  rear  of  the  Wright  House  on  the  10th  of  August. — The 
Indianapolis  Coal  Company,  formed  in  the  spring,  brought  the  first  coal  to  the  city 
from  the  Clay  county  mines  in  the  fall.  John  Caven,  Mayor  of  the  city  from  1863 
to  1867,  in  partnership  with  Robert  Griffith,  opened  a  mine  near  Brazil  as  early  as 
did  the  Coal  Company,  and  sent  a  few  loads  for  use  by  his  partner  in  his  law  office, 
but  lack  of  capital  prevented  him  from  prosecuting  the  enterprise. — Another  Ger- 
man paper,  the  Freie  Presse,  of  Republican  tendencies,  was  established  in  September, 
and  the  first  number  appeared  on  the  2d  of  that  month. — Wm.  Y.  Wiley  attempted 
to  establish  a  stock  auction  room  and  exchange,  but  there  was  not  enough  business 
to  keep  it  going. — Gavazzi,  the  assailant  of  the  Inquisition  and  the  Catholic 
church,  which  he  had  abandoned,  lectured  in  Masonic  Hall  in  October,  followed  by 
Lucy  Stone  in  four  lectures.  Ole  Bull  gave  his  first  concert,  with  Strakosch  and 
Adalina  Patti,  on  the  6th  of  December. — It  was  estimated  that  the  value  of  build- 
ings erected  this  year  was  $500,000. 

The  annual  city  election  of  1854  resulted  in  the  choice  of  James  McCready 
for  Mayor.  The  vote  was  2,012.  The  Council  this  year  determined  to  provide  a 
regular  police  force,  and  in  September  appointed  two  officers  to  each  ward — four- 
teen— with  Jefferson  Springsteen  as  Captain.  During  the  summer  of  1855,  while 
attempting  to  enforce  the  Maine  law  against  a  German  beer  seller  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  city,  they  were  resisted  by  a  large  body  of  Germans,  and  the  result  was 
a  terrible  riot,  in  which  several  of  the  Germans  were  wounded.  The  police  were 
sustained  by  a  public  meeting  and  by  the  Council,  but  the  feeling  against  the  law, 
and  the  expense  of  the  force,  finally  induced  the  Council,  on  the  17th  of  December, 

1855,  to  discontinue  it  and  the  Deputy  Marshal  too.     But  the  town  was  riotous  and 
unsafe,  and  a  second  force,  of  ten  men,  was  created  a  month  after,  January  21st, 

1856,  with  Jesse  Van  Blaricum  as  Captain.     This  was  dismissed  the  next  spring 
by  the  new  Council,  and  the  Marshal,  Jeff.  Springsteen,  authorized  to  appoint  one 
officer  for  each  ward,  with  C.  G.  Warner  as  Captain.     The  year  following  this  was 
undone,  and  one  policeman  for  each  ward  was  selected  by  the  Council,  with  A.  D. 
Rose  as  Captain.     Two  were  added  the  next  year,  1858,  and  Samuel  Lefever  made 
Captain.     Rose  was  replaced  in  1859.     In  1861  two  men  were  appointed  for  each 
ward,  and  Rose  was  retained.     He  was  succeeded  upon  his  entering  the  army,  by 
Thomas  A.  Ramsay.     John  R.  Cotton  became  Captain  in  1862,  two  day  patrolmen 
were  added,  and  the  force  uniformed  at  the  expense  of  the  city.     In  May,  1863,  the 
force  was  increased  to  seven  day  and  eighteen  night  patrolmen,  with  a  Lieutenant, 
and  Thomas  D.  Amos  as  Captain.     David  M.   Powell  succeeded   Amos  within  a 
week.     The  collection  of  thieves  and  rowdies,  camp-followers  and  other  nuisances 
attending  the  troops  rendezvousing  here,  made  it  necessary  to  add  a  military  guard 


102  HOLLOWATS  1ND1AXAPOLIS. 

to  the  police  force,  and  the  authorities  did  it,  maintaining  a  strong  guard  at  police 
headquarters  till  the  close  of  the  war.  Detectives  were  added  in  December.  In 
Jliy,  1864,  the  police  districts  were  fixed,  and  Samuel  A.  Cramer  made  Captain. 
In  December,  1864,  the  force  being  deemed  insufficient,  sixteen  men  were  added,  to 
be  retained  till  the  following  May.  The  Captain's  salary  was  raised  to  51,500,  and 
the  men's  to  $2  50  and  §3.00  per  day.  Jesse  Van  Blaricum  was  made  Captain  again 
in  the  spring  of  1865,  with  two  Lieutenants,  nine  day  and  eighteen  night  patrolmen, 
two  detectives,  and  sixteen  special  officers.  He  was  succeeded  in  April,  1866,  by 
Thomas  S.  Wilson,  who  resigned  in  1809,  and  was  succeeded  by  Lieut.  Paul,  who 
is  the  Chief  now.  The  force  now  consists  of  33  men,  exclusive  of  the  Captain  and 
Lieutenant,  and  costs  about  §33,000  per  year. 

In  September,  1866,  a  Merchants'  Police  Force  was  organized  by  Mr.  A.  Co- 
quillard,  which,  as  its  name  indicates,  was  designed  merely  for  the  protection  of 
property.  It  consists  of  twelve  men,  and  patrols  some  half  dozen  of  the  central 
blocks  on  and  adjoining  Washington  street.  It  is  paid  by  the  property  owners  in 
the  protected  section,  but  is  given  police  powers  by  the  Council.  There  are  also 
some  four  or  five  officers  in  the  Union  Depot,  selected  and  paid  by  the  Company, 
who  are  authorized  policemen. 

On  the  21st  of  March,  1854,  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  was 
organized,  and  from  the  first  has  grown  steadily  in  strength,  influence  and  useful- 
nesss,  till  it  is  now  inferior  to  no  society  in  the  State.  It  has  maintained  courses 
of  lectures,  not  always  profitably,  has  relieved  the  distressed  systematically  and 
constantly,  and  has  extended  its  services  into  scores  of  hitherto  unsuspected  and 
untried  channels  of  usefulness.  To  instance  but  one :  It  leaves  stamps  with  the 
Postmaster  to  pay  all  letters  carelessly  or  ignorantly  deposited  without,  asking- 
only  that  those  who  are  able  shall  repay  them.  This  saves  probably  a  dozen  let- 
ters every  day  from  loss  or  delay.  Its  means  grow  steadily  larger,  and  its  circle 
of  usefulness  widens  with  them.  Recently  the  question  of  erecting  a  building  of 
their  own  has  beer,  discussed,  and  if  it  be  not  done  now,  it  will  be  done  before 
long.  The  International  Convention  of  Y.  M.  C.  Associations,  which  was  held  in 
this  city  this  past  summer,  was  a  most  impressive  exhibition  of  the  extent  and 
power  of,  thos<5  affiliated  organizations.  Delegates  were  in  attendance  from  all  parts 
of  the  country  and  from  the  British  Provinces,  and  the  welcome  given  them  by  the 
Association,  as  well  as  by  the  citizens,  will  hardly  diminish  their  zeal  much. 

"Yankee"  Robinson,  as  elsewhere  noticed,  opened  the  <;  Atheneum."  in  the 
fall  of  1855,  with  a  fair  company,  and  Mrs.  Sue  Denin,  Maggie  Mitchell  and  J.  P. 
Adams  as  stars. — The  Tenth  Regiment  of  Regulars,  Col.  Alexander,  on  their  way 
to  Ut-ih,  passed  through  the  city  in  the  fall,  and  attracted  a  great  deal  of  attention, 
as  the  first  body  of  soldiers  as  large  as  a  regiment,  and  real  soldiers  too,  that  had 
ever  been  seen  here.  Capt.  Bee,  afterwards  a  Rebel  General  killed  at  Bull  Run, 
was  with  this  regiment  when  here. 


a  p  t 


FREE  BANK  PANIC — CITY  HOSPITAL — PROHIBITORY  LIQUOR  LAW — OVERTHROW  OF 
THE  CITY  SCHOOLS  —  INCREASE  OF  PROPERTY  —  FIRE  DIFFICULTIES— PROF. 
MITCHELL'S  LECTURES — CITY  ASSESSMENT — GYMNASEUM — THEATRE — PRESBY- 
TERIAN GENERAL  ASSEMBLY — PROJECTS  OF  WATER  WORKS — TORNADO — POLIT- 
ICAL EXCITEMENT — MISCELLANEOUS. 

?HE  year  1855,  though  it  "found  the  city  prosperous,  and  progressing  steadily 
in  business  and  population,  spreading  rapidly  in  all  directions  over  the  "  dona- 
tion"— some  sixty  or  eighty  "additions"  having  been  made  to  it  by  differ- 
ent holders  of  real  estate  since  1836,  and  Blake's,  Drake's,  Fletcher's,  Drake  and 
Mayhew's,  Blackford's,  and  others  coming  in  during  the  present  year  or  the  year 
before — found  it  also  struggling  with  the  first  severe  obstruction  it  had  encountered 
The  Free  Banks,  founded  on  State  stocks,  and  safe  enough  if  prudently  managed, 
had  been  allowed  to  multiply  inordinately,  and  to  work  upon  inadequate  securities 
in  some  cases,  and  suspicion  of  their  soundness  was  made  certainty  by  a  "feeler  '' 
of  Gov.  Wright's,  who  sent  Mr.  John  S.  Tarkington  to  a  bank  in  the  W abash 
region,  to  "try  its  bottom."  He  found  none.  The  bank  couldn't  redeem,  and 
straightway  began  a  movement  against  all  the  banks.  It  became  almost  a  panic. 
The  banks  stopped  payment;  and  as  they  furnished  a  large  proportion  of  our  cur- 
rency the  effect  was  disastrous.  Business  was  checked  at  once.  Buildings  stopped 
half  finished.  New  enterprises  were  smothered,  old  ones  crippled  or  paralyzed. 
Everybody  had  money  which  nobody  wanted  to  take.  There  was  hardly  any  debtor 
so  poor  that  he  wasn't  considered  better  than  the  bills  in  his  pocket  book.  Nobody 
wanted  to  be  paid,  except  at  such  a  discount  as  nobody  wanted  to  pay.  To  remedy 
this  evil  a  convention  of  Free  Bankers  was  held  here  on  the  7th  of  January,  1855, 
to  ascertain  the  condition  and  classify  the  notes  of  the  different  bank?,  that  credit 
might  be  given  to  those  that  were  sound,  and  the  necessities  of  the  public  relieved 
as  far  as  their  circulation  could  do  it.  Up  to  that  time  the  word  of  our  city  bank- 
ers was  law.  A  man  with  a  roll  of  bills  took  them  to  a  banker  to  pass  upon,  and 
as  he  decided  this  one  "good,"'  and  that  one  "worth  eighty  or  ninety,"  and  the 
other  he  "couldn't  say,"  the  roll  was  divided  and  preserved  or  got  rid  of  accord- 
ingly. This  was  bad  enough,  but  it  became  worse  when  these  judgments  varied 
every  day  or  two;  the  good  one  day  went  to  "ninety"  the  next,  and  the  "uncer- 
tain" of  one  week  came  up  to  "fifty"  the  next.  The  convention  of  Bankers  aimed 
to  effect  such  a  distinction  as  would  relieve  this  embarrassment.  They  did  what 
they  could,  and  that  wasn't  mu6h.  Some  dozen  or  more  banks  which  were  known 
all  along  to  be  safe,  were  classed  or  "gilt-edged;  "  a  dozen  or  two  more  were  put  in 
a  second  class,  and  as  many  in  a  third,  but  as  the  data  were  uncertain,  the  classifi- 
cation was  uncertain,  and  beyond  the  "gilt-edged,"  the  money  holder  had  to  take 
tbe  opinion  of  a  broker  or  banker  for  what  he  was  worth,  just  as  before.  The 


104 


INDIANAPOLIS. 


Journal  made  a  list  of  the  different  grades  of  banks,  and  changed  them  from  day 
to  day  as  the  city  bankers  directed,  an  I  this  publication  did  some  service,  and  wa3 
consulted  as  constantly  as  the  Union  Depot  time-table  is  by  travelers.  But  entire 
relief  only  came  with  the  cleaning  out  of  the  bad  banks  during  the  year  1855. 

A  second  visit  of  the  small  pox  in  January  of  this  year,  continued  into  Feb- 
ruary, created  a  second  panic  and  project  to  build  a  city  hospital.  On  the  10th  of 
March  the  Council  took  a  decisive  stand  for  it,  and  lots  were  purchased  and  plans 
made  for  a  building  in  the  extreme  northwestern  corner  of  the  city,  near  the  point 
where  the  Crawfordsville  road  crosses  Fall  Creek.  There  was  then  a  vast,  open, 
empty  common  between  this  location  and  the  city,  now  almost  entirely  built  up. 
The  hospital  was  begun,  but  with  the  subsidence  of  the  alarm  came  indifference 
about  any  provision  for  a  future  visitation,  and  the  work  lagged  through  four 
years,  and  was  only  finished  in  1859.  It  cost  about  §30,000.  During  the  greater 
part  of  the  timo  from  its  erection  till  April,  1861,  when  the  necessities  of  the  troops 
compelled  its  restoration  to  its  proper  uses,  it  had  been  occupied  by  prostitutes  and 
thieves.  Several  efforts  were  made  to  appropriate  it  to  some  useful  purpose,  but 
without  eff-ct.  Some  wanted  to  rent  it,  some  to  make  it  a  prison  for  prostitutes. 
The  Sisters  of  Charity  proposed  to  take  it,  but  the  Council  finally  decided  to  make 
it  a  Home  for  Friendless  Women.  It  was  never  used  for  this  purpose,  however, 
and  was  merely  occupied  by  the  person  who  took  care  of  it.  In  May,  1861,  it  was 
given  up  to  the  use  of  the  Government  as  a  hospital,  and  retained  till  July,  1865, 
and  then  till  the  following  November  as  a  Soldiers'  Home,  when  it  was  returned  to 
the  city,  greatly  enlarged  and  improved.  Two  large  three-story  ells  had  been 
added,  besides  outbuildings,  and  the  grounds  had  been  put  in  good  condition.  They 
were  given  for  the  rent  of  the  hospita.1.  A  few  weeks  after  the  soldiers  were 
removed  to  the  Home  at  Knightstowi.,  Rev.  Aug.  Bessonies,  of  St.  John's  Church 
(Catholic),  asked  that  the  Hospital  be  given  to  the  Sisters  of  the  Good  Shepherd 
for  a  city  prison  for  women,  and  the  house  of  refuge  (unfinished)  should  be  con- 
veyed to  them  on  condition  of  its  completion  and  use  as  a  reformatory  school  for 
prostitutes.  This  was  a  rather  "strong  pull"  in  the  opinion  of  the  citizens,  and 
they  subscribed  $6,000  to  complete  the  House  of  Refuge  and  defeat  the  project  of 
Mr.  Bessonies,  In  the  spring  of  1866  suitable  furniture  and  hospital  supplies  were 
obtained  at  the  sales  of  the  Government  property  at  Jeffersonville,  and  a  regular 
hospital  was  established  in  accordance  with  the  original  purpose.  Directors  and 
consulting  physicians  were  selected,  Dr.  G.  V.  Woollen  made  Superintendent,,  and 
the  hospital  opened  for  patients  on  the  1st  of  July,  1866.  It  has  been  efficiently 
maintained  since,  at  an  annual  cost  of  about  $7,000. 

The  third  prominent  event  of  this  year  (1855)  was  the  attempt  to  enforce  the 
liquor  law  enacted  during  the  preceding  winter  by  the  Legislature.  The  temper- 
ance movement  assumed  such  formidable  proportions  during  the  years  1853  and 
1854,  that  it  could  with  propriety  demand  recognition  of  the  political  parties,  and 
as  the  Democratic  party  repelled  it  unequivocally,  it  allied  itself  with  the  combi- 
nation then  forming  from  the  ruins  of  the  Whig  party,  destroyed  in  1852.  This 
combination  was  so  heterogeneous,  that  a  temperance  mixture  could,  as  easily  as  not, 
be  stirred  into  it.  The  attempt  to  repeal  the  Missouri  Compromise  by  the  Douglas 
Kansas-Nebraska  bill,  brought  the  Free  Soilers  to  the  halp  of  such  Whigs  as  still 
retained  a  hope  for  their  party,  and  both  were  reinforced,  and  largely  absorbed,  by 
the  Know  Nothing  organization.  The  singular  political  episode  presented  by  this 
association  originated  in  a  natural  and  proper  desire  to  restrain  the  inordinate 
fluence  of  the  foreign  element  in  our  country.  The  Democratic  party  had  gained 


KNOW  NOTHINGS— PROHIBITORY  LIQUOR  LAW. 

and  retained  this  power  by  concessions  that  made  it  mischievous,  the  Know  Noth- 
ings alleged,  and  it  was  necessary  to  the  safety  of  our  institutions  that  the  predomi- 
nance of  the  native  element  in  our  citizenship  should  be  asserted.  To  this  end  a 
secret  society  was  organized  with  the  express  object  of  repressing  foreign  influence. 
As  the  members  made  it  a  point  to  answer  "I  don't  know,"  to  every  question 
regarding  their  association  or  its  action,  it  obtained  the  name  of  "  Know  Nothing.' 
However  just  may  have  been  the  object  for  which  it  was  formed,  it  soon  degenera- 
ted into  an  unqualified  and  indiscriminate  hostility  to  foreigners  of  all  classes.  It 
started  the  wrong  way  to  work,  for  a  secret  political  society  is  inimical  to  the 
spirit  of  our  institutions  and  government,  and  starting  wrong,  it  went  further  and 
further  wrong  the  longer  it  lived,  and  at  last  fell  by  its  own  weakness.  But  at  the 
outset  it  spread  rapidly,  and,  working  secretly,  the  results  it  produced  at  elections 
startled  and  confounded  its  opponents.  They  were  prostrated  in  city  after  city 
and  stite  after  state,  without  being  able  to  see  where  the  blow  came  from.  Its 
career  was  an  unbroken  victory  till  Gov.  Wise  of  Virginia  checked  it  in  the  contest 
in  that  State  in  1855.  In  this  State,  it  carried  the  elections  by  sweeping  majori- 
ties, and  many  ludicrous  incidents  were  produced  by  the  efforts  of  the  Democrats 
to  discover  who  their  enemy  was.  A  couple  of  well  known  citizens  attempted  to 
look  into  the  rear  windows  of  Masonic  Hall  while  a  State  Know  Nothing  Conven- 
tion was  in  session  in  1855,  and  were  discovered  perched  on  the  top  of  the  water- 
closet  building  of  the  Hall,  one  peeping  in  and  reporting  to  the  other,  who  was 
taking  notes,  and  a  rough  caricature  of  the  scene,  published  in  a  little  paper  called 
the  Railroad  City,  produced  what  Homer  calls  "  inextinguishable  laughter."  The 
secrets  of  the  society  were,  however,  divulged  shortly  after,  and  published  in  the 
Sentinel  of  this  city,  and  it  soon  went  to  pieces. 

The  combination  of  Know  Nothings,  Whigs,  Free  Soilers  and  Temperance  men 
enacted  a  stringent  prohibitory  iiquor  law,  after  the  Maine  pattern,  allowing  no 
liquor  to  be  sold  except  by  authorized  agents.  It  went  into  operation  on  the  12th 
of  June,  and  Mr.  Espy  was  appointed  Agent  for  this  township.  It  was  enforced 
as  far  as  it  could  be — and  that  wasn't  far,  for  it  was  continually  evaded  and  secretly 
violated — for  about  two  months.  On  the  2d  of  July  Koderick  Beebee  purposely 
violated  it  to  test  its  validity.  He  was  arrested,  fined  and  imprisoned,  and  the  case 
taken  at  once  to  the  Supreme  Court.  The  opinion  being  very  generally  enter- 
tained that  the  Court  would  decide  against  the  law,  it  was  soon  entirely  disre- 
garded, but  not  until,  as  noticed  in  the  last  chapter,  it  had  caused  a  bloody  collis- 
ion between  the  police  and  the  Germans  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city.  The 
Court,  as  was  anticipated,  decided  it  unconstitutional,  and  liquor  was  left  without 
any  restriction  at  all. 

A  convention  of  the  Mayors  of  the  cities  of  the  State  was  held  on  the  22d  ot 
January,  for  nothing,  so  far  as  any  result  ever  showed. — The  first  City  Directory 
was  issued  this  year  by  Grooms  &  Smith. — Twenty-one  hundred  Sunday-school 
children,  with  the  Fire  Companies,  reinforced  by  the  Hope  Company  of  Louisville, 
celebrated  the  Fourth  of  July. — A  building  and  Loan  Fund  Association  was  formed 
in  the  fall,  and  lived  for  some  years,  unprofitably,  and  was  wound  up. — A  Fuel 
Association,  formed  the  last  of  October,  did  better,  for  it  furnished  wood  and  coal 
to  its  members  at  fair  rates. — A  Women's  Rights  convention  was  held  in  Masonic 
Hall,  October  22d  and  23d,  with  Mrs.  Eebecca  Swank  as  President,  and  Mrs.  Lucre- 
tia  Mott,  Ernestine  L.  Rose,  Frances  D.  Gage,  Adaline  Swift,  Harriet  Cutler  and 
Joseph  Barker  as  leading  participants. — The  Black  Swan  sang  at  Masonic  Hall ; 
Powers'  Greek  Slave  was  exhibited  at  Masonic  Hall; — Parodi  sang  at  Masonic 


HOLLOWATB   INDIANAPOLIS. 

Hall; — James  E  Murdoch  attempted  to  play  the  only  engagement  he  ever  made 
here,  at  the  Atheneum,  under  the  management  of  Brown  &  Commons,  but  his  sup- 
port was  so  execrable  that  he  left  after  the  second  performance  to  a  house  consist- 
ing of  just  fifteen  auditors. — The  houses  were  first  numbered  on  Washington  street 
this  fall,  but  it  was  badly  done,  as  was  the  attempt  in  1858,  which  was  superceded 
in  1864  by  the  system  which  allowed  fifty  numbers  to  the  square. — Park  Benjamin, 
David  Paul  Brown,  Edwin  P.  Whipple,  Henry  B.  Stanton,  Bishop  Simpson  and 
others  lectured  during  the  winter,  before  the  Y.  M.  C.  Association. 

The  year  1856  was  ushered  in  by  the  coldest  weather  ever  known  in  the  city 
or  the  Northwest.  On  the  morning  of  the  9th  of  January  the  thermometer  fell  to 
25°,  some  marked  28°,  below  zero.  It  has  never  been  so  cold  since. — In  May  the 
city  schools  had  a  pic-nic  in  the  State  Fair  Grounds,  marching  out  under  the  lead 
of  their  teachers,  in  a  procession  that  extended  almost  the  entire  length  of  the 
town.  The  occasion  was  fearfully  marred  by  the  drowning  of  one  of  the  pupils  in 
the  basin  at  the  west  end  of  the  grounds. 

The  first  prominent  event  of  the  year  was  the  meeting  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  the  Methodist  Church,  on  the  1st  of  May,  in  the  Representative's  Hall  of 
the  State  House.  All  the  Bishops  were  present,  and  some  of  the  prominent  preach- 
ers of  the  denomination  from  England  were  also  in  attendance.  The  sessions 
were  daily  attended  by  crowds  of  interested  spectators,  who  never  before,  or  since, 
saw  in  that  Hall  discussions  so  ably  and  courteously  conducted.  The  delegates 
filled  pretty  much  all  the  pulpits  in  the  city,  by  invitation,  during  their  stay. 
This  was  the  first  national  gathering  that  ever  met  here. 

On  the  6th  of  May  the  Democrats  carried  the  city  election  for  the  last  time. 
The  total  vote  was  2,776.  The  total  taxables  was  $7,146,670,  of  which  $1,892,152 
was  personal  property.  The  receipts  were  $27,889,  the  expenses  $46,105.  The 
city  debt  was  growing  fast.  In  1854  it  was  $567  ;  in  1855,  $11,000;  in  1856,  $15,- 
295.  To  fund  the  debt  a  loan  of  $30,000  was  proposed  to  be  negotiated  in  New 
York,  and  Jeremiah  D.  Skeen  was  appointed  the  agent  to  negotiate  it  upon  city 
bonds.  He  "pawned"  the  whole  amount  to  Winslow,  Lanier  &  Co.,  for  $5,000, 
his  political  enemies — he  was  a  Democrat — said,  to  get  money  to  bet  on  the  State 
elections  in  the  fall;  but  whatever  his  purpose,  he  kept  the  money,  and  his  fraud 
was  not  discovered  till  Winslow,  Lanier  &  Co.  notified  the  city  of  their  possession 
of  the  bonds  and  demanded  payment.  The  city  paid  the  New  Tork  bankers,  and 
twelve  years  aftewards,  in  1868,  obtained  judgment  against  Skeen's  sureties  for  the 
whole  amount  with  interest. 

As  the  political  contest  of  this  year  involved  every  office  in  the  State  or  nation 
of  any  consequence,  and,  besides,  inaugurated  the  first  general  and  organized  effort 
to  resist  the  exorbitant  power  of  the  slavery  party,  and  was  doubly  embittered  by 
the  outrages  of  the  Border  Ruffians  in  Kansas  in  the  effort  to  make  the  Territory  a 
Slave  State  in  spite  of  the  people,  it  was  by  all  odds  the  most  exciting  conflict  ever 
known  in  the  country.  It  was  hardly  equalled  in  intensity  of  feeling  by  that  of 
1860,  though  in  extent  and  profusion  of  demonstration  it  was  surpassed.  The 
Republicans  on  the  15th  of  July  held  a  mass  convention  here,  which,  up  to  that  time, 
had  never  been  equalled  in  numbers  or  enthusiam,  and  the  feeling;  was  maintained 
through  the  day  not  only  by  speeches,  but  by  a  singular  display  which  ;<  hit  the  sense  " 
of  the  crowd  and  the  spirit  of  the  occasion  "point  blank."  This  was  a  procession  of 
young  men  dressed  to  represent  the  Kansas  "  Border  Ruffians "  and  "  Bufcrd's 
Thieves,"  who  exhibited  a  number  of  "tableaux"  illustrating  the  cruelties  and 
crimes  of  those  infamous  villains.  It  was  bailed  with  a  continuous  roar  of  laughter 


CINCINNATI  BROKERS— GOVERNMENT  BUILDING.  107 

and  cheers  as  it  passed  down  Washington  street  to  the  State  House  Square.  A 
torch-light  procession,  with  several  thousands  of  torch-bearers,  closed  the  perform- 
ances at  night.  On  the  17th  the  Democrats  held  a  similar  conveution,  little  if  at 
all  inferior  in  numbers  to  the  other,  and  closed  with  a  torch-light  procession  equally 
magnificent.  The  Democrats  carried  the  elections,  if  they  did  not  the  honors  of 
lamp-wick  and  grotesque  dresses,  but  so  far  as  the  city  was  concerned  their  success 
was  short-lived.  Henry  F.  West,  the  Mayor,  elected  in  May,  died  on  the  8th  of 
November,  and  an  election  for  his  successor  was  held  on  the  22d  to  fill  the  vacancy, 
and  that  of  City  Clerk,  created  by  the  death  of  Alfred  SteVens  on  the  26th  of 
October.  The  Kepublicans  carried  it  by  a  decided  majority,  and  rejoiced  over  it 
with  a  degree  of  enthusiasm  rather  difficult  to  understand  in  view  of  the  fact  that 
the  Mayor's  power  did  not  amount  to  much,  and  the  Democrats  had  ten  Council- 
men  out  of  fourteen.  W.  J.  Wallace  was  elected  Mayor,  and  Frederick  Stein 
Clerk. 

During  the  preceding  winter  the  firm  of  Dunlevy,  Haire  &  Co.,  established 
themselves  here  in  the  interest  of  Cincinnati  bankers  and  brokers,  who  bought  our 
bank  bills  at  a  big  discount  and  "run  "  them  back  for  the  gold,  to  the  serious  injury 
of  the  business  of  the  State  and  the  city,  both.  Remonstrances,  by  both  press  and 
tongue,  were  loud  and  earnest,  but  had  no  effect  on  the  Cincinnati  blood-sucker?} 
who  would  ht?ve  "run"  a  depreciated  bill  back  upon  a  blind  beggar,  if  they  knew 
he  would  starve  if  he  redeemed  it.  The  effect  was  that  a  convention  of  business 
men  was  held  here  in  April  to  take  steps  to  divert  our  Cincinnati  trade  to  other 
points,  where  more  liberality  was  promised,  and,  doubtless,  would  have  been  prac- 
ticed, as  Cincinnati  was,  beyond  all  question,  the  meanest  city  on  the  face  of  the 
earth.  D.  K.  Cartter,  of  Cleveland,  and  a  number  of  the  leading  men  of  that 
city,  Toledo,  Louisville  and  St.  Louis  attended,  and  exhibited  the  advantages  of 
their  several  cities  in  speeches  that  gave  us  a  great  deal  of  valuable  information, 
and  lost  Cincinnati  a  great  deal  of  business. 

An  Art  Association,  of  the  fashion  of  the  old  Art  Union,  was  formed,  and 
continued  for  some  years,  to  distribute  pictures,  contributed  by  Jacob  Cox,  Peter 
Fishe  Reed,  James  F.  Gookins  and  other  artists,  to  the  subscribers.  The  pictures 
were  purchased  at  a  fair  price  by  the  Association,  with  the  money  paid  for  chances 
by  the  members. — The  Y.  M.  C.  Association  had  George  Sumner  (brother  of  Charles), 
Elihu  Burritt,  the  learned  blacksmith,  S.  S.  Cox  and  others  to  lecture  during  the 
winter. — Ole  Bull  played  at  the  Atheneum,  and  Paul  Julien,  Parodi,  Tiberini  and 
others  gave  concerts,  aad  Geo.  F.  Root  had  a  musical  convention. 

The  year  1857,  though  a  year  of  great  and  increasing  prosperity,  was  singu- 
larly uneventful.  Everthing  moved  on  in  that  steady,  undisturbed  pace  which  beto- 
kens the  best  possible  condition,  but  gives  the  records  little  to  fill  up  with.  The 
United  States  building,  corner  of  Pennsylvania  and  Market  streets,  was  in  prog- 
res?,  but  encountering  unexpected  difficulties  in  the  character  of  the  soil.  There 
had  once  been  a  swamp  there,  and  though  the  surface  was  "healed  over,"  the 
original  disease  remained  below,  causing  a  vast  deal  of  pumping  and  "filling  in" 
with  broken  stone  and  cement,  before  it  could  be  trusted  with  the  foundation  of  the 
massive  stone  structure  intended  for  the  Post  office  and  the  Federal  Courts.  The 
Episcopal  church,  the  first  Gothic  edifice  in  the  city,  and  the  first  church  of  stone; 
the  Third  and  Fourth  Presbyterian  churches,  the  Metropolitan  Theatre,  and  the 
large  block  of  handsome  buildings  opposite  the  Court  house,  on  the  site  of  Gov. 
Ray's  old  tavern,  where  he  intended  to  have  the  central  depot  of  all  the  rail- 
roads of  the  United  States,  were  in  progress,  with  a  number  of  less  pretentious 


EOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

business  structures  and  residences  in  all  parts  of  the  city.  The  increase  of  popula- 
tion and  business  had  become  so  decided  that  calculating  men  began  to  see  the 
way  clear  to  make  the  city  the  centre  of  supply  and  purchase  for  a  great  part  of 
the  State,  instead  of  allowing  Cincinnati  to  occupy  that  position.  A  meeting  was 
held  in  July  to  consult  upon  this  subject,  and  determine  upon  the  practicability  of 
establishing  wholesale  houses.  A  committee  appointed  by  this  meeting  reported 
that  we  had  seventy-five  houses  and  thirty-two  manufactories  which  carried  on 
wholesaling  to  some  extent,  in  connection  with  what  might  be  called  their  regular 
business,  but  had  no  exclusively  wholesale  establishment.  Blake,  Wright  &  Co. 
opened  a  wholesale  dry  goods  house,  to  test  the  soundness  of  the  theories  of  the 
"progressives,"  and  found  that  they  we  a  little  too  early.  They  soon  closed  it  up. 
The  schools  were  improving  with  the  general  advancement  of  the  city.  There 
were  nine  houses — two  rented — and  the  old  Seminary  used  as  the  High  School, 
which  would  properly  accommodate  but  1,200  pupils,  about  two-thirds  of  the  num- 
ber actually  crowded  into  them.  From  that  day  to  this,  except  during  the  time 
the  schools  were  suspended  under  the  operation  of  a  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court 
against  local  school  taxes,  the  accommodations,  doubly  and  trebly  enlarged,  have 
remained  still  about  as  far  behind  the  demand  for  them.  Twenty-five  teachers  are 
employed,  and  2,730  children,  less  than  half  the  number  in  the  city,  were  enrolled, 
of  whom  about  three-fourths  attended  regularly.  The  houses  in  the  1st,  2d  and  5th 
Wards  had  been  raised  to  two  stories.  The  house,  in  the  8th  Ward  was  built  this 
year.  The  trustees  were  D.  V.  Culley,  John  Love  and  Napoleon  B.  Taylor.  The 
fund  in  the  past  year  had  reached  $27,050,  the  expenses  f  19,428.  The  Germans, 
by  a  petition  to  the  Council  in  1855,  had  urged  that  the  school  fund  be  divided 
proportionally,  that  they  might  support  separate  German  schools.  The  Trustees,  to 
whom  the  matter  was  referred  by  the  Council,  reported  against  it,  early  in  1857,  on 
the  ground  that  there  was  not  enough  money  or  school  room  for  the  scholars  as  it 
was,  and  to  divide  both  would  ruin  the  regular  schools  without  benefiting  the  Ger- 
mans. 

The  general  charter  law  adopted  in  1853,  was  amended  by  the  Legislature  in 
1857,  so  as  to  make  the  terms  of  the  city  offices  two  years  instead  of  one,  and  the 
amended  act  was  accepted  by  the  Council  on  the  16th  of  March  of  this  year  (1857). 
The  first  election  was  held  in  May,  with  a  total  poll  of  3,300  votes,  each  party  elect- 
ing a  portion  of  its  ticket.  Andrew  Wallace  was  made  Chief  Fire  Engineer.  The 
salaries  of  officers  were  fixed  as  follows:  Mayor,  §800;  Clerk,  §600;  Marshal, 
§500;  Deputy,  $400;  Attorney,  $400 ;  Street.Commissioner,  $450;  Engineer,  §600; 
Clerk  of  Markets,  $300;  Sexton,  $80;  Fire  Engineer,  $175;  Treasurer,  4  per  cent, 
of  current,  and  6  per  cent,  of  delinquent,  taxes ;  Councilmen,  $2  for  each  meeting. 
The  city  assessment  was  §9,874,700. 

On  the  22d  of  May  the  Turnverein  had  a  festival,  in  which  they  turned  out 
in  procession  with  banners,  music  and  other  customary  decorative  effects,  aided  by 
some  of  their  brethren  from  Cincinnati  and  other  cities.  Addresses  were  made, 
gymnastic  exercises  practiced,  and  target  shooting  rather  ineffectually  attempted, 
upon  the  Fair  Ground.  Among  those  present  was  the  editor  of  the  Turners'  paper 
in  Cincinnati,  who  gave  at  night,  in  Washington  Hall,  some  astonishing  exhibi- 
tions of  his  power  of  memory. — Heavy  rains  and  a  freshet  in  the  river  on  the  10th, 
12th  and  16th  of  June. — The  Fourth  of  July  was  celebrated  by  the  union  of  Sun- 
day-schools for  the  last  time  this  year. — Firemen's  riots  in  July,  "  cleaning  out  ' 
brothels  on  East  Washington  street,  near  the  creek,  and  on  West  street.  This  sort 
of  missionary  work  was  attempted  by  the  firemen  several  times,  more  to  indulge  a 


RUIN  OF  THE  CITY  SCHOOLS.  ]_09 

spirit  of  deviltry  than  to  remove  the  nuisance  of  this  class  of  houses. — The  County 
Fair  was  a  failure — the  State  "Fair  an  astonishing  success.  The  entries,  as  before 
noted,  exceeded  3,000,  and  the  receipts  were  $14,600. — A  fugitive  slave  was  arrested 
in  December,  made  his  escape  by  the  help  of  the  crowd,  and  was  recaptured  after  a 
hot  chase,  and  carried  back  to  Kentucky. — Dodworth's  band,  with  ninety  instru- 
ments, gave  a  concert  in  the  Fair  Ground  the  last  day  of  J  une,  but  it  was  a  failure. — 
Edward  Everett  delivered  his  Washington  lecture,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Mount  Ver- 
non  Association,  on  the  4th  of  May,  in  Masonic  Hall. — Thalberg,  Parodi  and  Mol- 
lenhauer  gave  a  concert  on  the  7th  of  May.  Greeley,  Dudley  Tyng,  Gov.  Bout- 
well  and  others  lectured  to  the  Y.  M.  0.  Association. — German  theatrical  perform- 
ances were  given  at  the  "  Apollo  Garden,"  corner  of  Tennessee  street  and  Kentucky 
avenue,  by  Mr.  Kunz  and  his  daughters. — The  Atheneum  was  re-opened  by  Stetson 
&  Wood. — Cameron  and  McNeeley  started  the  Daily  Citizen,  at  No.  10  Pearl  street, 
and  continued  it  for  a  little  more  than  a  year. — The  Bidwell  Brothers,  Andrew  and 
Solomon,  started  the  Western  Presage,  as  a  literary  and  political  weekly,  on  the  3d 
of  January,  and  abandoned  it  in  April. 

The  year  1858  opened  with  a  disastrous  blow  at  the  city  school  system.  It 
was  firmly  established,  provided  with  good  houses  and  adequate  means,  and  prom- 
ised to  realize  the  expectations  of  the  most  sanguine.  The  citizens  taxed  them- 
selves readily  and  heavily  to  support  it,  and  took  a  just  pride  in  its  excellence  and 
its  benefits.  But  during  the  preceding  year  a  case  came  up  to  the  Supreme  Court 
from  Lafayette,  where  a  system  of  local  taxation  in  aid  of  the  State  Fund  existed, 
involving  the  question  of  the  constitutionality  of  local  taxes.  The  constitution 
required  that  the  school  tax  should  be  "  uniform,"  and  the  point  was  made  that  if 
cities  or  townships  were  permitted,  even  by  a  general  law,  to  add  a  tax  to  the  fixed 
state  tax,  which  other  cities  and  townships  did  not  choose  to  assume,  there  was  no 
"  uniformity,"  and  therefore  no  conformity  to  the  constitutional  requirement.  The 
Supreme  Court  sustained  the  opinion  in  a  decision  made  in  January,  1858,  and 
killed  our  admirable  schools  as  dead  as  last  year's  flowers.  An  attempt  was  made 
by  the  citizens,  at  the  request  of  the  Council,  to  supply  the  deficiency  created  by 
the  abrogation  of  the  city  school  tax,  by  individual  subscriptions,  but  it  failed  of 
any  but  a  temporary  effect.  Some  $3,000  were  subscribed  to  complete  the  current 
quarter,  but  the  dependence  was  found  to  be  greatly  inadequate  as  well  as  uncer- 
tain, and  at  the  end  of  the  quarter  the  schools  were  closed,  the  teachers  sought 
other  places  where  "  uniformity  "  of  taxation  would  be  construed  liberally  when 
it  could  be  done  as  justly  as  otherwise,  the  houses  were  abandoned,  and  our  bene- 
ficent system  was  a  ruin.  For  a  few  weeks  in  each  year  the  feeble  "  uniform ' 
supply  from  the  State  fund  permitted  the  schools  to  be  re-opened  free,  but  this  was 
little  better  than  nothing.  Private  schools  were  kept  by  some  of  the  old  teachers 
in  the  houses,  but  they  made  a  lamentable  contrast  in  attendance  and  efficiency 
with  the  system  they  followed.  It  was  a  disastrous  blow  at  the  future  lives  and 
culture  of  thousands  of  children,  for  the  years  lost  under  the  operation  of  that  decis- 
ion could  not  come  back  to  be  filled  with  the  instruction  and  improvement  of 
the  era  of  revived  free  schools  and  universal  education.  The  State  fund  has,  since 
the  overthrow  of  our  first  system,  increased  so  greatly  as  to  permit  its  renewal  and 
extension  with  the  rapid  growth  of  the  city,  and  now  there  are  no  better  schools  in 
the  United  States  than  ours. 

The  increase  of  buildings  in  1858  was  estimated  at  $600,000.  The  total  of  tax- 
ables  was  $10,475,000.  The  total  poll  at  the  May  election,  3,343.  The  Eepublicans 
improved  the  victory  of  November,  1856,  by  electing  a  majority  of  the  Council 


HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

They  have  held  the  control  of  the  city  government  ever  since.  The  election  of  a 
Chief  Fire  Engineer  impelled  the  first  steps  towards  abolishing  the  volunteer  Fire 
Department,  and  substituting  one  of  paid  workmen,  with  steam  engines.  Joseph 
W.  Davis,  the  new  Engineer,  was  excessively  unpopular  with  the  majority  of  the 
companies,  and  both  he  and  they  were  constantly  "in  hot  water"  about  some  dif- 
ference or  other.  The  Department  became  greatly  "demoralized,"  and  did  little 
except  carry  on  its  own  contentions.  It  thus  happily  prepared  the  way  for  an  early 
substitution  of  steam,  a  measure  which  Mr.  Davis  urged  with  great  persistency  and 
effect. 

Heavy  rains  during  the  spring  and  early  summer  of  this  year  made  damaging 
freshets  in  the  river  and  Pogue's  creek.  The  latter  flooded  the  lower  part  of  the 
city  on  the  12th  of  April,  washed  off  several  bridges,  injured  the  Central  Railroad 
bridge  so  that  a  locomotive  broke  through  it,  and  washed  out  the  culvert  under  the 
canal,  besides  doing  a  good  deal  of  mischief  to  the  houses  in  its  vicinity.  The 
former,  on  the  14th  of  June,  covered  the  bottoms  and  damaged  the  adjacent  farms 
greatly. — A  class  for  the  investigation  of  the  Bible  was  formed  during  the  summer, 
and  held  at  the  Court  house,  on  Sundays,  interesting  meetings,  participated  in  by 
men  of  all  creeds,  and  none,  and  lived  for  a  year  two. — The  Church  of  the  Hebrews 
was  organized  in  August,  and  met  in  an  upper  room  of  Judah's  block,  opposite  the 
Court  house,  till  1866,  when  the  Synagogue,  on  Market  street,  east  of  New  Jersey, 
which  was  commenced  in  1865,  was  occupied.  It  was  dedicated  in  1857.  It  cost 
about  §25,000. — The  laying  of  the  Atlantic  cable,  in  August  of  this  year,  was  cele- 
brated by  an  impromptu  glorification,  followed  by  a  more  elraborate  one  on  the 
17th,  at  which  Gov.  "Wallace  made  the  last  public  address  of  his  life.  The  decisive 
part  he  had  taken  in  giving  Congressional  aid  to  the  telegraph  in  1841,  and  the 
penalty  of  defeat  which  he  paid  for  it,  made  his  selection  appropriate  and  just,  and 
the  Governor's  own  admirable  oratory  made  it  pleasing  to  the  vast  crowd  that  gath- 
ered in  the  Circle  to  hear  him. — An  Academy  of  Sciences  was  formed  during  the 
summer,  and  held  meetings  for  hearing  essays  and  discussions,  in  Judah's  block, 
and  made  quite  a  collection  of  minerals  and  other  objects  of  scientific  value,  but 
the  interest  in  it  was  too  limited  to  allow  it  to  live  long,  and  it  died  in  1860. — In 
the  way  of  lecturing  the  astronomical  lectures  of  Prof.  O.  M.  Mitchell,  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati Observatory,  (afterwards  distinguished  as  a  Union  General  in  the  Kebel- 
lion),  to  the  Library  Association,  were  the  feature  of  the  year.  He  delivered  some 
ten  or  twelve,  which,"in  spite  of  their  purely  scientific  character,  were  made  so  inter- 
esting that  Masonic  Hall  was  crowded  every  night  to  hear  them,  and  the  Journal 
reported  them  regularly  every  day  at  considerable  length.  Thomas  F.  Meagher 
and  Prof.  E.  L.  Youmans,  the  celebrated  chemist,  Bayard  Taylor,  Dr.  John  G. 
Holland  (Timothy  Titcomb),  were  also  among  the  distinguished  lecturers  of  the 
season.  A.  J.  Davis,  the  prophdt  of  a  new  sect  of  fools,  gave  some  of  his  spiritual 
inculcations,  beginning  December  10th. — The  Metropolitan  Theatre  was  completed, 
and  opened  under  the  management  of  E.  T.  Sherlock,  with  indifferent  success.  It 
was  our  first  theatre.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  in  August  of  the  year  before.  The 
first  performance  was  a  series  of  remarkably  fine  tableaux,  September  27th,  1858. 
The  theatrical  portion  of  our  history  will  be  found  in  another  place. 

The  year  1859  was  another  year  of  unbroken  progress,  but  of  meagre  interest 
in  its  history.  All  that  can  be  told  of  it  may  be  condensed  into  a  dozen  words. 
Buildings  going  up,  the  city  spreading  in  every  direction,  business  increasing.  The 
City  Council,  on  the  1st  of  March,  again  changed  the  charter  by  adopting  the 
amendment  of  the  current  session  of  the  Legislature,  which  made  the  terms  of  the 


CITY  AFFAIRS— MISCELLANEOUS. 

city  offices  two  years  and  of  the  Councilman  four.  A  proposition  to  divide  the  1st  and 
7th  Wards,  forming  the  8th  and  9lh,  was  voted  down  at  the  election  May  3d.  It  was 
carried  in  1861,  however,  and  councilmen  elected,  but  owing  to  some  informality 
or  defect  in  the  election,  the  "elect"  were  not  admitted  to  the  Council.  The  total 
taxables  was  $7,146,677,  more  than  $3,000,000  less  than  the  year  before.  As  the 
city  had  b3en  steadily  growing,  it  is  not  easy  to  understand  this  sudden  collapse  of 
one-third  of  its  wealth.  The  receipts  were  $71,211,  all  spent,  and  a  debt  of  $9,- 
317  added;  this  is  the  City  Clerk's  statement.  The  Treasurer  reported  the  receipts 
at  $59,168;  expenses  at  $56,442.  This  discrepancy  is  as  inexplicable  as  the  other. 
The  Fire  Department  cost  $10,232;  gas,  $4,771;  police,  $4,882.  "Washington  street 
was  bouldered — the  first  work  of  the  kind — between  Illinois  and  Meridian  in  May. 
The  tax  was  made  60  cents  on  the  $100.  There  was  some  talk  of  building  a  City 
Hall  adjoining  the  former  Journal  building,  corner  of  Meridian  and  Circle  streets, 
but  it  came  to  nothing.  The  city  offices  remained  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  till  1862, 
when  the  completion  of  Glenn's  block  from  the  old  Washington  Hall  and  Wright 
House  afforded  au  opportunity  to  obtain  more  convenient  quarters,  and  a  lease  of 
the  two  upper  stories  was  made  for  ten  years.  This  year  (1870),  the  lease  was  for- 
feited, the  unexpired  portion  compounded  for,  and  the  offices  moved  to  Cottrell  & 
Knight's  new  building.  A  station  house,  just  completed,  at  a  cost  of  about  $10,000, 
on  Alabama  street,  south  of  Washington,  gives  the  city  its  own  prison  for  the  first 
time.  The  use  of  the  county  jail  for  city  offenders  was  enormously  expensive,  and 
crowded  that  "institution"  unhealthily,  and  the  station  house  is  a  most  necessary 
and  valuable  addition  to  the  city's  police  provision. 

An  attempt  was  made  in  January  to  organise  a  University  and  obtain  the  Uni- 
versity Square  from  the  Legislature,  but  it  failed,  partly  because  there  was  not  force 
enough  behind  it,  and  partly  because  the  Legislature,  not  feeling  sure  that  Univer- 
sity Square  did  not  belong  to  the  city,  refused  to  make  any  grant  in  connection 
with  it.  The  city  has  it  now,  and  has  made  a  handsome  park  of  it,  as  noticed 
heretofore. — A  Gymnastic  Association  was  formed  this  year,  and  the  Atheneum 
obtained  for  its  apparatus  and  exercises,  Simon  Tandes  being  President,  and  Thos. 
H.  Bowles,  Secretary.  Some  $1200  were  expended  in  fitting  up  bowling  alleys, 
swings,  ladders,  bars,  and  other  appliances,  and  public  exhibitions  occasionally 
given,  but  it  died  out  in  a  couple  of  years.  An  effort  had  been  made  in  1854  to 
maintain  such  an  association,  and  a  room  was  rented  for  it  in  Blake's  block,  but  it 
died  out  in  three  or  four  months. — Some  miles  of  streets  were  lighted  with  gas 
for  the  first  time,  this  year,  the  Council  having  adopted  a  general  and  uniform 
plan  for  placing  and  providing  lights. — The  "old  Underbill  property,"  corner  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Michigan  streets,  was  bought  in  April  by  Rev.  Gibbon  Wil-- 
liams,  a  Baptist  clergyman,  and  the  building,  subsequently  enlarged  and  improved 
into  one  of  the  handsomest  edifices  in  the  city,  converted  into  the  Indianapolis 
Female  Institute.  It  is  one  of  the  best  schools  in  the  West.  It  can  accommodate 
200  boarders  and  300  day  pupils.  After  Mr.  Williams  left,  in  1863,  it  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Mr.  C.  W.  Hewes. — The  General  Assembly  of  the  Old  School  Pres- 
byterian church  met  on  May  18th,  in  the  Fourth  Prebjterian  church,  and  sat  till 
June  2d.  Dr.  Thornwell,  of  South  Carolina,  Dr.  Palmer,  of  New  Orleans,  Dr.  N. 
L.  Eice  of  St.  Louis,  Dr.  Alexander,  of  Princeton  College,  Dr.  McMasters,  of  this 
State  formerly,  and  a  number  of  other  distinguished  men  of  the  denomination  were 
in  attendance. — The  City  Council  appropriated  $500  this  year,  to  help  celebrate  the 
Fourth  of  July.  A  procession  two  miles  long,  composed  of  artillery,  cavalry  and 
infantry  companies,  the  Turners,  Butchers,  Fenians,  Firemen,  some  Catholic  asso- 


HOLLOWATTS  INDIANAPOLIS, 

ciations  and  Firemen  from  Madison,  with  three  brass  bands,  was  the  feature  of  the 
day.  Caleb  B.  Smith,  afterwards  Secretary  of  the  Interior  under  President  Lin- 
coln, delivered  the  address  on  the  Fair  Ground.  There  were  fire- works  and  a 
masquerade  procession  at  night,  and  at  midnight  a  march  of  the  mysterious  "  Sons 
of  Malta."  This  last  was  patiently  waited  for  by  an  immense  throng  that  lined 
both  sides  of  Washington  street  far  along  above  and  below  Military  Hall,  where 
the  society  met.  Its  demonstration  was  a  success,  so  far  as  the  shouts  and  enjoy- 
ment of  the  spectators  could  make  it  so. — Adam  Dietz,  drank  a  keg  of  lager  beer 
(eight  gallons),  on  a  wager,  inside  of  twelve  hours,  on  the  23d  of  August. — The 
Daily  Atlas  was  started  by  Jon  D.  Defrees.  The  Brookville  American  removed  to 
this  city  by  Mr.  T.  A.  Goodwin,  its  proprietor,  and  subsequently  converted  into  the 
Daily  Evening  Gazette. — George  D.  Prentice  lectured  in  Masonic  Hall,  on  the  6th 
of  February,  and  H.  S.  Foote,  formerly  Governor  of  Mississippi,,  lectured  in  Rob- 
bert's  Chapel.  Mr.  Lincoln  spoke  in  Masonic^Hall  on  the  19th  of  September,  and 
Gov.  Tom.  Oorwin,  of  Ohio,  spoke  at  the  American  House  on  the  6th  of  July — all 
in  preparation  for  the  decisive  and  final  battle  with  slavery  of  the  next  year. — 
Richard  Cobden,  the  great  English  Free  Trader  and  Statesman,  passed  through 
the  city  on  the  5th  of  May. 

An  election  was  held  in  February,  1860,  to  decide  whether  the  Council  should 
appropriate  $5,000  to  assist  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  in  purchasing  new  Fair 
Grounds,  the  old  having  been  found  too  small.  As  the  Board  proposed  to  locate 
the  State  Fair  here  permanently,  it  was  thought  a  judicious  operation  to  give  them 
the  necessary  ground,  and  an  attempt  was  made  to  form  an  association  forjthat  pur 
pose,  but  the  association  came  to  nothing,  and  though  the  people  authorized  the 
$5,000  subsidy  to  the  Board,  it  was  deemed  of  doubtful  legality,  and  never  given. 
Subsequently  the  Railroads  joined  with  the  Board  and  bought  the  grove  north  of 
the  city,  where  the  State  Fairs  are  now  held.  During  the  last  fall  (1870),  there 
was  some  talk  of  obtaining  still  other  grounds,  west  of  the  city,  and  removing  the 
Fair  to  them,  but,  unless  the  destruction  of  the  trees  on  the  present,  ground  be  the 
objectionable  feature,  no  reason  for  a  change  is  very  clearly  visible. 

A  plan  to  supply  the  city  with  water  was  proposed  by  a  Mr.  Bell  of  Rochester, 
in  the  spring  of  1860,  but  it  was  discussed  without  result.  The  company  owning 
the  Central  Canal  renewed  the  proposal  in  1864,  but  with  no  better  success.  In 
the  fall  of  1865  the  subject  was  revived  by  a  recommendation  of  Mayor  Caven, 
which  suggested  Crown  Hill  as  a  suitable  elevation  for  a  reservoir.  The  City 
Council  resolved  that  the  city  wanted  water-works,  but  should  not  build  them. 
No  company  came  forward  to  undertake  the  work,  and  it  fell  out  of  sight  till  the 
spring  of  1866.  The  Mayor  again  brought  it  up,  with  illustrations  derived  from 
an  examination  of  Mr.  J.  B.  Cunningham,  a  civil  engineer,  but  nothing  practical 
was  elicited  tiil  November,  when  R.  B.  Catherwood  &  Co.,  afterwards  prominent  in 
competing  for  the  city  gas  contract,  and  in  the  street  railway  project,  were  granted 
a  charter  for  a  water  supply  company,  which  required  the  water  to  be  taken  from 
the  river  several  miles  above  the  city;  that  a  certain  sum  be  expended  in  a  certain 
time;  fire-plugs  to  be  located  where  ordered  at  a  certain  price;  and  that  the  city 
should  have  the  privilege  of  purchasing  the  works  after  twenty-five  years.  The 
Company  was  organized  with  R.  B.  Catherwood  as  President,  and  John  S.  Tark- 
ington  as  Secretaiy,  the  charter  accepted,  a  few  feet  of  pipe  laid  on  North  street, 
and  the  thing  died  out.  In  the  winter  of  1868-9  some  effort  was  made  by  the 
Central  Canal  Company  to  induce  the  Council  to  adopt  the  Holly  system  of  water 
supply  and  fire  protection,  which  dispenses  with  a  reservoir,  and:' :  ces  the  water 


POLITICAL '  EXCiy-EMESr  OP  l9f,0—TOB-KAtD9: 

i>y  machine  pressure  instead  of  gravity.  They  wanted  to  make  a  joint  stock  com- 
pany, into  which  they  would  put  the  canal  at  a  fair  valuation,  and  take  both  the 
water  supply,  and  the  power  to  distribute  it,  from  that  unfortunate  bit  of  State  enter- 
prise. But  the  Council  would  not  listen  to  the  scheme.  A  year  after,  in  the  fall  of 
1869,  Mr.  Woodruff  of  Rochester,  organised  a  company  to  suppty  the  city  with 
water  upon  th»;  Holly  plan,  as  in  Auburn,  N.  Y..  Peoria,  111.,  Dayton,  0 ,  and 
ft  number  of  other  cities.  He  was  given  a  charter,  after  a  good  deal  of  contention, 
and  under  pretty  rigid  limitations,  and  the  works  are  now  well  on  the  way  to  com- 
pletion. The  building,  near  the  foot  of  Washington  street,  is  up  and  enclosed,  sev- 
eral miles  of  pipe  are  down,  a  flume  to  operate  the  water  machinery  by  a  supply 
from  the  canal — the  charter  allowing  water  power,  but  requiring  steam,  too — has 
been  laid,  arid  an  f.rtesian  well  sunk  seventy  or  eighty  feet  to  a  reservoir  of  pure 
soft  water.  wh;ch  will  be  made  available  as  soon  as  possible.  The  water  works  will 
be  noticed  more  fully  hereafter. — Street  Railroads  were  projected  in  November  of 
I860,  but  nothing  \vas  done  till  1863 

The  political  excitement  of  this  year  was  so  absorbing  that  there  is  little  else 
to  tell,  and  of  that  there  is  nothing  but  speeches,  processions,  monster  demonstra- 
tions, and  miles  of  torch  lights.  Each  p-irty  seamed  to  fee!  that  its  success  in  the 
c-lection  depended  mainly  upon  impressing  people  with  the  idea  that  it  was  strong-  • 
est  in  lamps  and  banners,  and  long  trails  of  dusty  footmen  and  wagons  full  of  women 
and  walnut  limbs.  The  feeling  was  hot  more  intense  than  in  185G,  for  by  both  sides  • 
the  success  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  in  view  of  the  division  between  Douglas  and  Brecken- 
ridge,  was  deemed  pretty  much  a  foregone  c  inclusion,  and  this  probability  allayed 
excitement  to  a  considerable,  extent,  but  it  seemed  more  nearly  universal.  Tlu* 
Lii'raocrats.  whatever  they  thought  of  their  chances,  were  in  no  degree  surpassed 
by  their  more  hopeful  opponents  in  the  g'ory  of  torches  and  crowds  and  speeches. 
The  demonstration  on  the  day  that  Mr.  Dougla?  spoke  in  the  old  Fair  Ground, 
September  28th,  was  quite  equal  to  that  of  the  Republicans  on  the  29rii  of  August. 
A  month  after  the  election  political  issues  began  passing  from  the  stage'  of  dis- 
cussion to  that  of  battle,  and  opened  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  our  city. 

A  destructive  storm,  accompanied  by  a  phenomenon  somewhat  resembling  the 
cloud  end  of  a  water  .spout,  occurred  on  the  29th  of  May,  a  little  while  before  sun- 
down. It  passed  along  the  south  end  of  the  city,  sweeping  a  little  north  east  at 
the  end  of  Virginia  avenue,  tearing  out  a  path  through  roads,  fences,  hous  s  and 
whatever  interposed.  It  twisted  the  residence  of  Gardner  Goldsnvth,  a  horticul- 
turist on  Virginia  avenue,  half  way  round  on  its  foundations,  and  tore  one  end  of 
it  entirely  away,  breaking  Mr.  G.'s  leg  in  the  ruins.  Trees  two  or  three  feet  through 
were  uprooted,  broken  short  off,  or  twisted  round  as  :f  the  waterspout  had  wrung 
them  like  a  wet,  rag.  It  wa<  the  most  fearful  tornado  experienced  here  for  many 
years.  The  spout  was  described  at  the  time  as  a  long  narrow  bag,  or  tongue,  hang- 
ing down  from  a  small  cloud  that  pissed  swiftly  below  the  other  ckv.id-.  swaying 
about  and  thrashing  up  and  down  vio'.en  ly.  and  tearing  up  everything  which  it 
passed. 

A  fine  display  was  made  on  the  Fourth  of  July  by  the  firemen  and  military, 
trade  societies  and  citizens,  and  H  superb  display  of  fire-works  given  in  the  col- 
iseum, which  was  merely  a  high  fence  round  the  southeastern  portion  of  Univer- 
sity Square,  with  a  she-1  roof  and  roughly  seated  — Bstyard  Taylor,  Henry  .E,  Ray- 
mond,   Lola   Montez.    Prof  Younvms,   John    B.   G-ough,    Dr.   R.  J.   Breeken ridge, 
George  W.  Winship,  lectured  during  the  year,  and  a  fool  walked  u  rope  stretched, 
from  Blackford's  b'oek  to  Yohn's. 
(8) 


THII^D    PERIOD — TO    10J1 


Chanter    Hill. 


CHANGE  IN  THE  CITY  DURING  THIS  PERIOD — CONFLICTING  OPINIONS  OF  COERCION — 
BREAKING  OtJT  OF  THE  WAR — EXCITEMENT  AND  VOLUNTEERING — CAMPS — ARSE- 
NAL— SOLDIERS'  HOME — POLITICAL  INCIDENTS — TREASON  TRIALS — SLACKNESS 

IN  ENLISTMENTS — DESERTIONS — BOUNTIES — CITY  BOUNTIES — IMPROVEMENTS — 
WATER  WORKS — SEWERAGE — STREET  RAILWAY — ADDITONS  TO  THE  CITY — CEN- 
SUS OF  1870. 

Fourth  Period  in  the  history  of  our  city,  embraced  in  the  decade  from 
January,  1861,  to  January,  1871,  is  the  most  important,  not  onlj'  as  regards 
events  affecting  the  whole  country,  in  which  it  bore  a  conspicuous  part,  but  in 
those  affecting  its  immediate  development  and  prosperity.  It  saw  us  rise  from  a 
mere  flourishing  inland  town  and  prominent  railway  station  to  the  condition  of  a 
manufacturing  and  commercial  centre,  increasing  our  population  130  per  cfnt.; 
spreading  far  around  beyond  the  lines  of  the  "donation;'1  reaching  out  to  every 
quarter  of  the  State  for  business;  displacing  whole  blocks  of  handsome  residences 
for  huge  ware  houses;  tearing  away  the  inadequate  buildings  of  earlier  years  for 
palatial  stores  and  banks;  paving  and  lighting  scores  of  miles  of  streets  every 
year;  supplying  water,  and  providing  sewerage;  bearing  heavy  taxes  for  war  pur- 
poses, and  paying  large  debts  wiihout  serious  oppression,  under  the  impulse  of 
rapidly  accumulating  wealth.  Tt  saw  Indianapolis  a  town,  with  a  prospect  of 
steady  but  not  unusual  development,  and  it  sees  a  city  with  commanding  power  and 
position,  with  prosperity  established,  and  the  future  beyond  the  reach  of  accident. 
Up  to  this  time,  though  slowly  "forging"  ahead  of  its  former  rivals,  Madison,  New 
Albany,  Evansville,  Lafayette  and  Furt  Wayne,  and  recognized  as  the  largest  and 
wealthiest  town  in  the  State,  its  position  was  not  so  fully  assured  but  that  the 
advantages  exposed  in  the  coal  fields  and  other  sources  of  industry,  might  equal 
the  start  it  had,  and  ultimately  leave  it  behind  But  the  close  of  the  decade  sees 
it  hopelessly  ahead  of  all  rivalry,  the  metropolis  of  the  State,  the  scat  of  the  most 
numerous,  varied  and  productive  manufactories,  and  the  distributing  centre  of  a 
trade  probably  unequaled  by  any  city  in  the  Union  of  the  same  population 
Instead  of  being  endangered  by  the  development  of  the  coal  and  iron  interests,  its 
position  has  been  made  certain  by  them.  It  has  four,  and  will  soon  have  five,  rail- 
roads penetrating  the  coal  fields  in  as  many  directions,  and  bringing  to  us,  at  the 
centre,  from  which  they  all  radiate,  >cur  choice  of  coal  for  all  uses.  The  conse- 
quence is  a  growth  ^of  the  irou  interest  that  surprises  the  most  sagacious  and 


GROWTH  OF  THE  CITY— COERCION. 

sanguine  of  our  business  prophets.  And  with  long,  if  not  equal,  steps,  cotton  and 
woolen  mills,  grain  and  saw  mills,  pork  houses,  breweries,  lumber  yards,  stave 
factories,  furniture  works,  wholesale  grocery,  dry  goods,  drug,  book,  shoe,  hat  and 
other  houses,  have  kept  close  by  its  sid*,  or  close  behind.  The  onormous  influx  of 
troops  during  the  war,  not  only  from  o  jr  own  State  in  prepiration  for  the  field,  but 
from  other  States  in  passing  back  and  forth  as  the  exigencies  of  the  time  ivqtiired, 
and  the  flood  of  trivial  and  temporary  trade  that  always  follows  a  crowd,  gave  an 
impulse  to  solid  business  and  permanent  development  less  in  degree,  but  like  in 
kind,  to  that  experienced  by  San  Francisco  twenty  years  ag  >.  Everybody  was  in  a 
fever  of  enterprise,  and  nobody  seemed  to  think  that  anything  was  impossible. 
Illinois  street,  which  hid  previously  known  little  business  except  whit  a  saloon  or 
two  and  a  few  millinery  establishments  at  one  end,  and  a  hotel  at  the  other,  could 
do,  became  crowded  with  clothing  stores,  restaurants,  cheap  jewelry  stands,  saloons, 
grocery  stores,  boarding  houses,  gambling  hells,  and  all  that  kin!  of  traffic,  decent 
and  indecent,  honest  and  rascally,  that  pursues  an  army  as  alhioores  do  a  flock  of 
flying  fish.  Wholesale  houses  began  pushing  up  from  the  Union  Depot  and  down 
from  Washington  street,  along  Meridian.  Pennsylvania  thickened  with  machine 
shops  in  the  creek  bottom,  and  heavy  houses  sprang  up  on  Delaware.  Busi- 
ness which  had  previously  been  confined  to  Washington  street,  except  as  scattered 
butcher  shops  and  fam'ly  groceries  had  dribbled  it  about  on  other  streets,  now  began 
to  "swell  beyond  the  measure  of  its  chains,"  and  locations  on  cross  streets  were 
deemed  quite  equal  to  the  best  on  Washington,  and  on  Meridian  street  better.  The 
city  was  actually  burthened  with  p  >pulaf,ion  and  trade.  It  was  like  a  man  breath- 
ing oxygen,  living  too  much  to  last.  The  close  of  the  war  and  the  disbanding  of 
the  army,  though  it  dropped  us  back  to  a  heal  hy  conditi  >n,  in  which  there  were  ele- 
ments of  safe  calculation,  and  left  us  a  little  exhausted  by  o^er  exertion,  was  nev- 
ertheless so  gradual  a  depletion  that  the  change  was  effected  without  a  violent  or 
dangerous  shock.  And  our  temporary  advantages  had  been  so  promptly  and  judi- 
ciousl}'  improved  that  much  upon  which  we  had  laid  our  hands  was  held  fast.  .We 
had  made  a  great  and  irreversible  step  forward.  The  impulse  of  the  war  wa 
weakened  but  not  lost,  and  there  was  never  any  fear  that  we  should  have  to 
begin  as  1861  found  us,and  build  over  again,  in  better  fashion,  what  the  "flush 
time"  had  built  for  itself.  The  drift,  like  the  sediment  left  by  the  Nile  flood,  fer- 
tilized enterprise  for  new  crops  of  achievements.  With  this  glance  at  the  changes 
produced  by  the  war,  and  tka  influences  set  in  operation  by  it,  the  connection  of 
the  city  with  military  affairs  may  be  introduced. 

The  split  in  the  Democratic  convention  at  Baltimore  in  1860  gave  plain  warn- 
ing that  the  Slave  States  would  abide  by  no  action  or  election  that  they  did  not  con- 
trol. It  therefore  caused  no  surprise  when  South  Carolina  passed  an  ordinance  of 
secession  and  was  speedily  joined  by  other  States.  The  subject  had  been  fully  dis- 
cussed hero  oji  the  sturnp  and  by  the  press,  and  public  opinion  had  reached,  as  usual, 
two  conflicting,  but  very  well  defined,  conclusions.  On  the  one  side  it  was  held 
that  the  Union  should  be  preserved  at  all  hazards,  and  the  reeu«ant  States  forced, 
by  invasion  and  power  of  arms,  to  obey  the  will  of  the  majority.  On  the  other,  it 
was  contended  that  if  the  Government  began  a  war  of  coercion,  struck  the  first 
blow,  shed  the  first  blood,  and  stood  befor-e  the  world  the  military  .aggressor,  while 
the  South  confined  its  action  .-to  ordinances  and  paper  demonstrations,  the  effect 
would  be  an  union  .of,  all  the  Slav-e  States,  border  and  sea  board,  the  enlistment  of 
the  sympathies  and  aid,  if  not  actual  alliance,  of  our  European  rirals,  and  a  serious 
danger  of  losing  our  own  Government  as  well  as  the  States  that  had  abandoned 


HOLLOWAY'S  IXDIAXAPOLIS. 

it.  For  this  reason  it  was  suggested  that  a  National  convention,  elected  directly 
by  the  people,  should  be  called  to  consider  the  difficulty,  and  if  no  adjustment 
could  be  made,  it  would  b-«  better  to  let  the  South  try  a  separate  government,  allied 
by  interest  and  kindred  to  ours,  than  to  risk  the  chances  of  an  aggressive  war  with 
a  people  better  fitted  by  tastes  and  modes  of  life  for  military  service  than  we  then 
were.  If  the  proposition  should  be  rejected,  the  South  would  be  placed  so  clearly 
in  the  wrong  that  a  resort  to  coercion  would  be  less  likely  to  repel  the  border  States 
or  European  sympathy.  Governor  Morton,  then  recently  elec'ed  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor, set  forth  the  grounds  of  the  first  of  these  opinions  fully  and  effectively  in  a 
speech  at  the  Court  house  a  short  time  after  the  Presidential  election.  The  other 
was  advocated  by  the  Journal,  -conducted  by  B.  R  Sulgrove.  The  debate,  though 
earnest,  as  beseemed  so  vital  a  question,  was  nerer  angry  or  discourteous.  It  was 
protracted  till  the  first  gun  was  fired  at  Fort  Sumter.  That  shot  scattered  all 
causes  of  difference  between  the  coercionists  and  the  conveutionists.  The  South 
had  begun  the  war,  and  the  conventionists  were  relieved  of  all  fears  as  to  the  effect 
of  aggression  by  the  Government.  It  was  no  longer  a  question  of  taking  the  offen- 
sive and  making  invasions,  but  a  question  of  seif-defense  and  preservation  of  the 
Government.  If  the  South  had  remained  quiet,  and  left  it  with  the  North  t,o  decide 
whether  there  should  be  war  or  not,  and  to  begin  the  war,  it  is  not  clear,  even  now. 
what  the  issue  might  have  been.  The  factious  spirit  at  home  was  dangerously 
strong,  even  against  a  defensive  war.  Strengthened  by  the  effect  of  an  offensive 
war.  and  the  union  of  all  the  Slave  States,  with  European  help  more  openly  and 
unrestrictedly  given,  and  it  might  have  defeated,  as  it  did  seriously  cripple,  the  Gov- 
ernment from  1862  to  the  summer  of  1864.  The  great  majority  of  the  people,  both 
of  the  city  and  the  State,  followed  the  lead  of  Governor  Morton,  and  gave  their 
••voice  for  war'  as  heartily  as  "Sempronius."  Feeling  being  thus  pretty  weli 
prepared  for  hostilities,  and  the  mad  fury  of  the  South  removing  all  grounds  of  dif- 
ference in  the  North,  it  wiuld  have  caused  no  astonishment  to  a  reflecting  man  to 
see  a  strong  outburst  of  resentment  at  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter.  But  the  univer- 
sal uproar  of  rage  and  uprising  of  armies  passed  all  the  conclusions  of  logic  and 
all  the  anticipations  of  patriotism.  It  was  a  phenomenon.  The  State  was  a  chaos 
of  military  spirit  and  patriotic  zeal,  out  of  which  it  was  nearly  as  hard  to  bring 
order  and  organization  as  it  was  for  Frankenstein  to  make  a  man  of  a  confusion  of 
leather,  beef  bones  and  sheep's  entrails.  But,  if  we  may  believe  Mrs.  Shelley, 
Frankenstein  did  make  a  man  of  his  material,  and  Gov.  Morton  made  an  army  of 
his. 

The  Union  of  the  coercionists  and  their  opponents,  produced  by  the  attack  on 
Fort  Sumter,  was  facilitated  by  two  occurrences  that  foreshadowed  war.  The  Star 
of  the  West,  while  trj-iug  to  carry  provisions  to  Fort  Sumter,  was  fired  upon  by 
the  rebel  batteries  near  Charleston  and  driven  off;  and  Mr.  Lincoln,  in  passing 
through  this  city  on  the  12th  of  February,  1861,  on  his  way  to  Washington  to 
assume  the  Government,  made  a  little  speech  of  five  minutes,  indicating  his  line  of 
action,  which  had  a  very  decided  effect.  Every  word  of  it  was  carefully  weighed, 
and  it  was  evident  that  what  he  said  would  be  done.  Suggestively,  rather  than 
positively,  he  stated  that  it  was  his  duty  to  protect  and  preserve  the  property  of 
the  nation,  and  he  must  do  it.  It  was  the  first  authoritative  intimation  of  the 
policy  of  the  new  administration  and  the  new  order  of  things.  Differences  began 
lo.  fade  away  on  the  side  of  the  Union  men  after  this.  The  line  of  support  or  hos- 
tility to  the  Government  began  to  show  through  party  organizations.  A  violent 
upheaval  was  breaking  through  old  party  crusts.  It  was  completed  the  day  the 


tt'AK  EXC1TEMEKT. 

sews  came  of  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter.  The  excitement  ia  the  city  was  intense. 
Tho  -treots  were  thronged  and  the  corner.-  blockaded  by  eager  crowd.*,  waiting  for 
fresh  news,  discussing  consequences,  and  magnifying  every  chance  of  resistance 
by  Mijor  Anderson.  At  nisht  a  meeting  was  held  at.  the  Metrop  litan  Theatre, 
surpassing  in  numbers  and  interest  any  in  the  histoi-y  of  the  city,  at  which  old 
party  lines  were  utterly  obliterated.  Democrats  and  Republicans  were  equally 
officers,  speakers,  committees,  and  authors  of  resolutions.  About  half  past  nine 
o'clock  the  news  came  to  the  meeting  that  Major  Anderson  had  surrendered,  and 
then  it  would  not  have  been  safe  for  any  man  to  have  avowed  sympathy  with  the 
v  South.  "War,"  was  everybody's  cry,  except  a  few  who  said  nothing.  For  once 
all  the  inveteracy  of  politic.il  feeling,  and  all  the  natural  hesitation  to  fight  of  a 
people  to  whom  war  and  all  that  belongs  to  it  are  unknown,  were  broken  clown.  All 
Deemed  to  feel  the  greatness  of  the  crisis,  and  though  there  was  indescribable  excite- 
ment there  was  not  much  boisterousness.  Hundreds  remained  ont  0f  bed  all  night 
waiting  about  the  telegraph  or  newspaper  offices,  or  collected  in  knots  in  saloor.s 
or  on  the  corners  The  next  day  several  of  our  military  companies  began  recruit- 
ing. The  next,  though  Sunday,  was  given  more  to  battles  than  the  God  of  battles. 
On  Monday  morning  the  proclamation  of  the  President  casing  for  75,000  volunteers, 
and  the  order  of  the  War  office  assigning  six  regiments  as  the  quota  of  our  State, 
appeared,  and  the  excitement  was  given  a  practical  direction.  For  a  year  the  una- 
nimity and  enthusiasm  of  the  first  meeting  at  the  Theatre  were  a  type  of  every 
demonstration  in  Indiana  and  the  Northwest.  Th*  conquest  of  Western  Virginia, 
largely  effected  by  Indiana  soldiers  and  generals — for  McClellan  got.  the  credit  of 
what  Gen.  Thomas  A.  Morris  plvnned  and  executed — enc:>uragod  effort,  and  the 
defeat  at  Bull  Run  stimulated  it.  There  was  no  lack  of  volunteers.  Governors 
were  annoyed  by  requests  to  get  regiments  accepted,  and  when  done,  it  was 
accorded  by  the  War  office,  and  received  by  the  applicants,  as  a  favor.  The  saga- 
cious and  impeccable  Cameron  could  not  see  anv  ine  in  other  troops  than  infantry, 
or  other  arms  than  the  old  smooth-br>re  musket.  So  he  refused  cavalry  r.nd  artil- 
lery, and  was  seriously  troubled  with  too  much  infantry.  He  did  not  know  the 
value  of  taking  the  tide  at  the  fl  Kid.  His  successor  Irarnod  it  by  finding  the  tide 
at  dead  low  water.  During  this  flush  time  of  war  feeling  volitntters  were  at  a  dis- 
count. Not  less  than  30.000  men  were  tendered  Governor  Morton  for  the  6,000 
demanded.  Six  re/irnents  of  three-months  men  were  organized  in  a  week,  and 
rendezvoused  at,  the  old  Fair  Ground,  where  the  city  companies,  the  Grays,  the 
Guards,  the  Z  >uave  Guards,  and  the  Independent  Zouaves,  had  taken  up  their 
juarters  the  day  the  Governor's  proclamation  wa*  issued  in  execution  ot  that  of  the 
President.  They  were  visited  there  and  addressed  by  Stephen  A.  Douglas  about  a 
week  after.  Every  day,  and  almost  every  hour  of  the  day,  for  two  weeks,  compa- 
nies could  be  seen  marching  up  from  the  Union  Dupot,  with  the  fife  and  drum  that 
had  not  seen  service  since  the  old  militia  musters  or  th*  campaign  u?  the  Bloody 
Three  Hundred.  Recruiting  flags  were  thick  along  the  streets,  and  tin;  rattle  of 
drums  incessant  and  deafening.  Crowds  of  boy.*,  somutim-s  swelled  by  admiring 
country  girls,  folio wt-d  the  recruiting  squads  in  their  progress,  and  people  flocked 
from  their  houses  to  witness  for  the  first  time  the  "pomp  and  circumstance1'  of 
war,  such  as  it  was.  Seven  companies  were  organizad  here,  most  of  which  were 
incorporated  in  the  Eleventh  (or  Zouave)  Regiment,  Col.  Lewis  Wallace.  The  six 
regiments  were  numbered,  from  the  concluding  number  of  the  five  regiments  raised 
during  the  Mexican  War,  the  Sixth,  Seventh,  Eighth.  Ninth,  Tenth  and  Eleventh. 
The  last,  being,  as  already  remarked,  mainly  composed  of  our  city  companies,  was 


HOLLOS-AY'S  IKDIAXAPOLIS. 

presented  a  flag  by  the  ladies  of  the  city,  in  the  State  House  Square,  on  which  occa-' 
sion  the  gallant  Colonel  practised  a  coup  de  theatre  which  was  about  as  impres- 
sive as  '-Puff  s"  unanimous  prayer  in  the  "Critic."  He  took  the  flag,  and,  raising  it 
above  his  head,  called  on  his  men  to  kneel  and  "  swear  to  remember  Buena  Vista.'' 
But  he  made  one  of  the  best  disciplined  and  most  efficient  regiments  in  the  service 
out  of  them.  They  were  sent  to  EvansviLe,  May  8th,  to  protect  the  border,  butsub- 
sqxiently  removed  to  Maryland,  where,  while  stationed  at  Cumberland,  a  squad  of 
their  scouts  had  a  skirmish  with  a  band  of  rebel  cavalry,  and  fought  pluckily.  As 
it  was  the  first  real  fighting  in  which  Hoosiers  were  concerned,  it  gave  thejEleventh 
regiment  a  prominence  in  the  State  which  it  never  lost,  and  its  gallant  conduct 
entitled  it  retain.  The  other  rive  regiments  were  the  first  in  Western  Virginia. 
T-bey  drove  the  rebtls  from  all  their  advanced  posts,  protected  the  railroads,  fought 
at  Rich  'Mountain,  and  defeated  and  killed  General  Garnett  at  Carrick's  Ford. 
The  volunteers  bej-ond  the  six  regiments  of  our  quota,  were  formed  into  six  regi- 
ments of  one  year  State  troops,  under  an  act  of  the  Legislature  at  the  extra  session 
then  in  progress,  but  subsequently  all  except  one  enlisted  for  ihree  years,  and  were 
transferred  to  the  United  States  service.  The  places  of  the  men  who  did  not  like 
to  engage  for  the  long  term  were  rapidly  filled.  They  were  reviewed  by  General 
McClellan  oa  what  was  then  a  large  common,  north  of  the  Fair  Ground,  on  the 
24ih  of  May.  It  can  serve  no  purpose  to  introduce  here  the  history  of  the  troops 
of  the  State  or  city.  That  belongs  to  a  work  of  wider  scope  than  this.  It  will  be 
enough  to  sketch  the  city's  connection  with  the  war,  through  its  camps,  prisons, 
Soldiers'  Home,  and  provision  for  bounties  and  soldiers  families. 

The  first  ramp,  afterwards  called  Camp  Sullivan,  as  already  noted,  was  on  the 
old  Fair  Ground.  The  new  Fair  Ground  was  rapidly  converted  to  the  same  uses 
and  called  Camp  Morton,  and  it  was  the  complaints  of  the  men  there  that  induced 
the  Legislature  to  censure  the  first  State  Commissary,  Isaiah  Mansur.  They  had 
been  accustomed  to  good  food  and  plenty  of  it,  at  home,  and  they  made  an  unrea- 
sonable fuss  about  their  rutions  in  camp.  Mr.  Mansur  took  the  office  without  pay. 
furnished  all  the  meat  in  his  own  packing  house — the  best  in  the  market — supplied 
fresh  baker's  bread,  butter  and  sugar,  advanced  his  own  money,  and  did  better 
than  any  one  who  blamed  him  could  have  done,  and  he  was  paid  for  it  by  us 
unjust  a  cer.sure  as  was  ever  ii-flicted.  Public  opinion,  in  which  the  Journal  led 
the  way  by  defending  him  with  irrefutable  proofs  and  arguments,  reversed  the 
hasty  judgment  of  the  Legislature.  Ill  feeling  and  violent  demonstrations  are  fre- 
quent incidents  of  the  transition  from  the  freedom  of  home-life  to  the  discipline  of 
efficient  soldiers.  Camp  Morton  was  the  scene  of  many  such,  in  which  sutlers 
were  generally  the  sufferers.  Camp  Burnside,  south  of  Camp  Morton,  on  Tinker 
street,  was  made  a  very  neat  and  attractive  little  town  for  many  months,  first  by 
ths  volunteers  under  Col.  Biddle.  and  next  by  the  "Invalids"  or  "  Veteran  Reserve* 
Corps. '  Camp  Carrington,  subsequently,  was  made  the  largest  and  best  arranged 
camp  in  the  State.  It  lay  beyond  the  extreme  northwestern  corner  of  the  city.  The 
artillery  camp,  called  Camp  Noble,  was  fitted  up  by  Col.  Fryberger,  and  occupied 
by  the  Twenty-Third  Battery  for  a  time.  The  Eleventh  regiment  had  a  camp,  while 
re-orgaciizing  for  the  three  years'  service,  on  the  west  bank  of  White  River,  near 
Cold  Spring.  The  ca  np  of  the  Second  Cavalry,  Col.  John  A.  Bridgeland,  was  near 
Fall  Creek,  four  miles  north  of  the  city.  The  colored  regiment,  Col.  Charles  Rus- 
sell, was  collected  at  Camp  Fremont,  in  the  wooes  at  the  southeast  extremity  of  the 
city,  to  the  loft  of  Virginia  avenue.  The  practice  ground  of  the  artillery  was 
about  three  miles  south  of  the  city,  near  Mr.  Paddock's  residence,  west  of  th" 


ARSENAL— SOLDEIR&  HOME. 

Bluff  road.  The  Nineteenth  Regulars,  Lieut.  Col.  King,  were  stationed  here  for 
several  months,  in  1861-2.  Camp  Morton  was  used  exclusively  as  a  prison  camp 
after  the  organization  of  the  first  regiments.  The  prisoners  brought  from  Fort 
Donelson,  early  in  the  spring  of  1862,  were  placed  there,  and  guarded  first  by  dif- 
ferent volunteer  regiments,  but  finally  by  the  Veteran  Reserves.  The  exposure  to 
which  these  prisoners  had  been  subjected  created  an  epidemic,  and  the  citizens 
opened  hospitals  for  the  sick  in  the  old  Atheneum  room  and  in  Blackford's  old 
building  on  Meridian  street.  The  ladies  did  the  nursing,  and  did  it  as  tenderly 
and  perseveringly  as  if  the  patients  had  been  their  own  relatives.  But  the  morUil- 
i'y  was  very  severe,  and  the  little  grave  yard,  now  emptied,  along  the  Terro  Haute 
Railroad  track  near  the  river,  made  a  promise  of  growth  which  was  happily  not 
fulfilled. 

But  the  institutions  of  most  consequence  in  the  connection  of  the  city  with  the 
war,  were  the  Arsenal  and  the  Soldiers'  Home.  The  first  was  the  result  of  Gov. 
Morton's  determination  to  see  that  the  Indiana  troops  were  supplied  with  good 
ammunition.  The  General  Government  could  furnish  but  little,  and  that  not  always 
good.  The  materials  were  supplied  by  the  Quartermaster,  the  workmen  by  a  detail 
of  the  llth  regiment,  and  on  the  27th  of  April,  1861,  the  Arsenal  was  inaugurated  by 
moulding  bullets  in  hand-moulds  in  a  blacksmith's  furnace,  and  packing  the  cart- 
ridges in  the  next  room.  Subsequently  it  was  enlarged  till  it  employed  several  hun- 
dreds of  hands,  and  supplied  a  large  portion  of  the  ammunition  of  the  troops  west  of 
the  mountains.  In  October,  1861,  the  Secretary  of  War,  Mr.  Cameron,  and  the  Ad- 
jutant Genera],  L  Thomas,  visited  the  Arsenal,  approved  it,  paid  for  its  work,  and 
recommended  it  highly.  Herman  Sturm  was  its  Superintendent.  For  a  time  it 
occupied  Ott's  building  south  of  the  State  House;  then  the  buildings  north  of  the 
State  House  Square,  and  was  afterwards  removed  to  vacant  ground  east  of  the 
city.  It  was  discontinued  on  the  18th  of  April,  1864,  after  three  years'  service. 
Its  entire  business  in  three  years  amounted  to  $788,83S.45,  upon  which  the  State 
made  a  profit  of  $77,457.32,  or  nearly  10  per  cent.  The  Arsenal  has  since  been 
succeeded  by  regular  a  Government  establishment,  in  the  northeastern  suburbs, 
where  ample  and  admirable  buildings  have  been  erected,  and  the  grounds  hand- 
somely laid  out  and  ornamented. 

The  Soldiers'  Home,  like  the  Arsenal,  was  the  result  of  obvious  necessity,  which 
the  Governor  had  the  decision  to  provide  for.  The  city  was  not  only  the  great 
State  rendezvous,  but  it  was  the  halting  and  recruiting  post  of  most  of  the  troops 
passing  east  or  west  to  the  "front."  They  came  always  hungry,  dirty  and  tiied> 
and  very  often  sick.  A  night's  rest,  or  a  wash,  or  good  meal,  might  often  be  worth 
a  man's  life.  So  the  Soldiers'  Home  was  started.  The  Sanitary  Commission  had 
agents  at  the  Union  depot  to  provide  meals  for  the  men,  and  help  for  the  sick,  at 
the  hotels,  but  this  was  expensive  and  unsatisfactory,  and  a  camp  was  established, 
with  hospital  tents,  on  the  vacant  ground  south  of  the  Union  Depot.  But  in  18-62, 
the  Governor,  seeing  the  increasing  tide  of  troops,  and  the  inadequacy  of  the  pro- 
vision made  for  them,  resolved  to  establish  a  permanent  Home  This  was  done  by 
Qnrtermaster  Stone,  in  July,  1862,  who  erected  buildings  in  the  grove  on  West 
street,  just  north  of  the  Terre  Haute  Railroad.  These  buildings  were  afterwards 
added  to  and  enlarged,  till  it  could  lodge  1,800  men  and  feed  8,000  every  day. 
From  August,  1862,  to  June,  1865,  it  furnished  3,777,791  meals.  During  1864  it 
furnished  an  average  of  4,498  meals  per  day.  The  bread  was  supplied  by  a  bakery 
under  the  charge  of  the  Quartermaster,  so  well  conducted  that  all  the  soldiers  needed, 
and  thousands  of  loaves  for  the  poor,  were  provided  out  of  the  rations  of  flour  the 


'HOLLOWAT'S  IXDIASAPOLrs. 

men  were  entitled  to.  The  savings  in  the  rations  of  other  articles  amounted  to 
$71,130.24.  The  savings  of  flour,  a  sutler's  tix,  and  the  sale  of  offal,  paid  $19,- 
642.19.  So  that  this  beneficent  institution  wis  sustained  almost  entirely  by  the 
rations  of  the  troops  sheltered  by  it.  The  ladios  of  the  city,  on  all  holidays,  or 
noted  occasions,  provided  excelleat  dinners  for  all  at  the  Home,  cooked  them,  waited 
at  the  table,  and  did  all  the  service  themselves.  A  Ladies'  Hume  for  the  benefit  of 
soldiers'  wives  and  children,  was  opened  in  a  building  near  the  depot  in  December, 
1863.  An  average  of  100  a  day  was  taken  care  of  till  its  close. 

After  the  departure  of  the  three  years'  troops,  there  came,  for  a  time,  a  calm, 
upon  the  domestic  aspect  of  the  war,  broken  only  by  the  clamor  of  the  newsboys 
"  Journal  Extra!"  "'nother  battle !"  and  the  Morgan  raid,  till  the  return  of  the 
re-enlisted  veterans.  As  each  old  regiment,  re-enlisted  at  th'3  end  of  its  te'm  for 
three  years  more,  it  was  allowed  a  furlough  to  come  home,  and  thirty  days  to  remain 
in  the  State.  It  was  received  with  salutes  of  guns,  processions  of  all  the  troops 
J7i  the  city,  addresses  by  the  Governor  and  its  own  officers,  and  given  a  good  din- 
ner at  the  Home. 

The  Morgan  raid,  early  in  July,  1863,  produced  a  good  deal  of  excitement,  b::t 
it  ended  in  nothing  worse  than  calling  the  citizens  to  University  Square  to  drill  for 
a  few  days,  and  the  sending  away  of  the  specie  reserves  of  some  of  the  b  inks.  The 
day  the  news  of  the  fight  near  Gorydon  reach. ;d  here,  a  Michigan  battery  which 
had  been  stationed  here  for  some  time,  was  ordered  to  take  the  Jeffersonville  cars 
to  meet  the  adventurous  rebel.  As  it  passed  down  Tennessee  street,  at  the  crossing 
of  Indiana  avenue,  a  caisson  exploded,  blowing  two  mfin  over  the  tops  of  the  adja- 
cent shade  trees,  horribly  mutilating  them  and  killing  them  instantly,  and  mor- 
tally wounding  a  man  and  boy  who  happened  to  be  passing  near  at  the  time. 

The  gathering  and  organizing  of  troops  during  the  continuance  of  the  war 
formed  the  most  conspicuous  feature  of  the  cit.y's  history,  but  there  were  many 
incidents  growing  out  of  the  war,  more  political  than  military,  which  demand  some 
notice.  During  the  first  ebullitign  of  patriotic  feeling  which  followed  the  attack  on 
Fort  Sum'er,  there  was  hardly  a  sound  of  disseat  heard,  no  appearance  of  slack 
loyally  was  tolerated.  T!K  Sentinel,  proprietors  failed  for  some  reason  to  hoist  a 
national  flag  on  their  building,  and  th-<  rnob  of  uncompro  nising  patriots  threatened 
violence  if  they  did  not.  They  and  the  editor,  with  several  other  citizens,  who  were, 
or  were  believed  to  be,  sympathizers  with  the  South,  were  made  to  take  an  oath  of 
fidelity  to  the  Government.  They  were  for  a  while  in  serious  danger  of  personal  vio- 
lence. Subsequently,  as  the  war  lagged  and  prospects  grew  dark,  opposition  became 
more  open  and  decided.  It  assumed  a  party  shape,  and  added  to  the  usual  hostility 
of  parties  all  the  rancor  of  civil  war.  The  minority  were  treated  as  enemies  of 
their  country,  and  repaid  what  thoy  thought  oppression  with  resentment  that  did 
not  always  discriminate  between  the  justice  of  the  war  and  the  justice  of  the  action 
by  which  they  suffered.  At  a  county  convention  held  in  the  Court  house  square 
on  the  2d  of  September,  1862,  some  of  their  speakers,  notably  among  them  Mr. 
Robert  L.  VValpole,  spoke  bitterly  of  the  Government  and  the  soldiers,  and  justi- 
fied or  palliated  the  rebellion.  Many  soldiers  in  the  crowd  were  exasperated,  and 
retorted  angrily.  A  row  resulted  which  cann  near  ending  fatally.  The  obnox- 
ious speakers  were  driven  off,  and  had  but  a  narrow  chance  for  their  lives.  If 
.aught,  somo  of  them  would  most  probably  have  been  killed.  At  the  following 
election  the  suspected  opponents  of  the  war  were  often  excluded  from  the  polls,  and 
not  a  few  were  beaten  away  from  the  ground  and  otherwise  maltreated.  "  Traitor''1 
was  the  mildest  epithet  given  to  the  rebel  sympathizer  or  the  less  obnoxious  Demo- 


TKEASOKABLE  ASSOCIATIONS. 

-rat  who  censured  the  war  p  ilicy  of  the  Government.  At  one  time,  .vhile  a  vet- 
i-ran  regiment,  w  is  encamped  here,  some  allusion  to  the  participation  of  a  portion 
uf  its  members  in  a  political  procession  of  the  day  before,  made  by  the  Sentinel, 
brought  down  an  angry  crowd  who  attempted  to  "clean  out'1  the  office.  But  for 
the  resolute  and  prompt  action  of  Gov.  Baker,  then  Provost  Marshal  of  the  State, 
it  would  have,  been  done.  In  soms  other  towns  of  tho  State  it  was  done.  In  the 
fall  of  1863  a  State  Convention  of  the  same  class  of  men  w  is  held  in  the  State 
House  yard,  and  arms  were  so  generally  exhibited  or  detected  that  no  little  alarm 
was  excited,  and  preparations  made  by  the  military  to  either  meet  an  attack  or 
suppress  a  riot.  Several  were  arrested  and  fined  for  carrying  concealed  weapons. 
As  the  trains  left,  the  depot  in  the  evening,  returning,  the  crowds  upon  them  began 
lining  their  revolvers  in  a  sort  of  defiance  or  triumph,  and  scattered  shots  recklessly 
in  all  directions.  A  child  was  said  at  the  time  to  have  been  killed,  and  two  or  three 
persons  wounded,  but  it,  was  not  true.  The  easteru  trains  were  speedily  stopped,  and 
every  man  compelled  to  give  up  his  arms.  Some  hundreds  were  captured,  and  many 
more  thrown  away,  and  found  by  the  b  >ys  next  day.  This  senseless  act  gave 
u  color  to  th-i  damaging  assertions  of  the  "loyalists''  as  to  the  dangerous  character 
of  the  p  irtv,  and  provoked  harsher  feeliifgs  and  more  intolerant  action.  Probably 
it  i.s  not  a  matter  of  astonishment  that  thus  "  overcrowed  "  and  put  under,  the  oppo- 
nents of  the  war  should  resort  to  secret  and  oath-bound  associations  as  a  means  of 
protection  or  vengeance.  At  all  events  they  did  it,  and  during  the  winter  of 
1862-3  when  the  session  of  the  Legislature  was  approaching,  the  air  was  full  of 
rumors  of  organized  bodies  of  "Knights  of  the  Gold-n  Circle,"  and  what  not,. com- 
bining here  to  support  the  anti-war  majority  in  that  body  in  an  effort  to  overthrow 
the  S  ate  Government,  and  take  the  State  out  of  the  war  and  out  of  the  Union. 
A  secret  society  was  formed  to  resist  it.  and  here  were  the  first  movements  of  the 
Union  League  on  one  side  and  what  became  tb'j  Sons  of  Liberty  on  the  other. 
With  the  conflicting  assertions  of  each  as  to  its  own  and  its  enemy's  purposss  this 
sketch  has  nothing  to  do.  It  deals  merely  with  the  facts  developed  by  their  efforts^ 
Atnojg  these  are,  1st.  The  presentment  by  the  Grand  Jury  of  the  United  .States 
Court,  in  May,  published  in  August,  1862,  in  which  the  existence  of  secret  treason- 
able associations  is  declared  to  have  been  abundantly  proved  by  the  confessions  of 
members.  2d.  The  developments  made  by  detectives  of  the  ceremonies,  oaths  and 
purposes  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  which  was  published  in  1864.  This  disclosure 
pretty  nearly  ruined  the  Order  for  a  party  machine,  and  it  was  utterly  ruined 
shortly  after  by  the  next  and  most  important  political  event  of  the  war  in  which 
the  city  was  concerned.  3d  The  "Treason  Trials."  A  conspiracy  to  combine 
large  rebel  forces  from  Missouri  and  Kentucky,  aided  by  rebel  sympathizers  at 
home,  and  by  the  rebel  prisoners  in  the  Northwest  who  were  to  be  provided  with 
arms  by  the  plunder  of  the  Government  arsenals,  to  overrun  this  and  adjoining 
States  and  fatally  embarrass  the  Government,  was,  through  the  efforts  of  leading 
Democrats  of  this  city,  frustrated,  but  not  so  far  deprived  of  dangerous  vitality  but 
that  secret  efforts  to  form  anew  and  reknit  the  broken  links  of  the  scheme  were 
made,  mainly  through  H.  II.  Dodd,  the  most  active  of  the  leaders  of  the  S.  O.  L. 
On  the  20th  of  August,  1864,  Gov.  Morton  received  a  letter  from  New  York,  dated 
the  18th,  notifying  him  of  the  shipment  of  a  large  number  of  revolvers  and  cart- 
ridges to  this  city  to  Mr.  Dodd,  the  boxes  marked  as  "Stationery,"  or  "Sunday- 
School  Books."  Mr.  Dodd's  office  was  searched,  and  the  weapons  found  exactly  as 
described.  He  made  his  escape  for  a  time,  but,  returning,  was  arrested  on  the  last 
day  of  August.  Subsequently  L  P.  Milligan,  William  A.  Bowles,  Stephen  Horsey 


HOLLOWAf'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

Andrew  Humphreys,  Horace  Heffren  and  some  others  were  arrested  for  participa- 
tion in  this  and  other  treasonable  efforts.  Dodd  was  tried,  convicted  and  condemned 
to  death  by  a  military  commission,  but  escaped  from  the  Government  building — 
over  the  Post  office — by  the  help  of  friends,  on  the  night  of  the  6th  of  October. 
Milligan,  Bowles  and  Horsey  were  subsequently  tried  in  the  same  way  and  received 
the  same  sentence,  commuted  to  imprisonment  in  the  Ohio  Penitentiary.  Hum- 
phreys's  sentence  was  commuted  by  the  General  of  the  District,  A.  P.  Hovey,  to  con- 
finement within  a  specified  region  of  the  country.  All  were  released  under  a 
decision  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court. 

The  military  zeal  which,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  made  recruiting  not  only 
easy  but  troublesomely  abundant,  slackened  as  the  progress  of  the  war  developed 
clearly  what  military  service  meant.  Volunteers  had  to  be  bought,  at  last,  at  pri" 
ces  corresponding  to  the  sacrifices  required.  Patriotism  dropped  out  of  the  calcu- 
lation, and  entering  the  army  became  a  business  affair,  in  which  wages  and  boun- 
ties were  set  against  the  cost  of  maintaining  families,  the  loss  of  time,  and  the 
possibilities  of  battle.  But  other  influences  combined  with  this  natural  tendency 
of  a  protracted  war,  to  make  military  service  a  business  divested  of  sentimental 
attributes.  First  among  these  was  political  opposition.  When  the  first  fury  of 
indignation  at  the  aggre-sion  of  the  rebels  had  expended  itself  in  war  and  words, 
this  opposition  began  to  show  itself,  cautiously  at  first,  but  boldly  a  little  later. 
The  national  tax  was  denounced,  and  organizations  formed  to  resist  it  and  any 
attempt  at  conscription.  McOlellan's  failure  before  Richmond,  brightening  the 
prospects  of  the  rebellion,  strengthened  it.  The  war  was  legislated  against  by  every 
possible  means  during  the  winter  of  1862-3.  NaturaLy  accompanying  or  follow- 
ing this  political  effort,  were  movements  to  discourage  enlistments,  to  encourage 
desertion,  and  organizations  to  protect  deserters  and-  resist  their  arrest.  So  effect- 
ual were  these  that  during  the  single  month  of  December,  1862,  no  less  than  two 
thousand  three  hundred  Indiana  deserters  were  lured  home,  to  their  own  disgrace 
and  the  infinite  injury  of  the  service.  Letters  from  relatives  politically  adverse 
to  the  war,  urging  desertion  and  promising  protection,  were  one  of  the  most  power- 
ful of  these  disloyal  appliances.  The  papers  of  that  time  published  hundreds  of 
them,  revealed  by  the  soldiers  themselves.  An  inadequate  conception  of  the  obli- 
gation they  had  incurred  facilitated  these  treasonable  efforts.  To  them  an  engage- 
ment to  serve  in  the  army  was  like  a  bargain  to  do  any  other  job.  If  they  didn't. 
like  it  they  could  leave  it  by  merely  forfeiting  unpaid  wages.  Deserters,  of  course, 
brought  home  terrible  stories  of  destitution  and  suffering,  and  hostile  newspapers 
made  the  most  and  worst  of  every  reverse  and  every  discouraging  circumstance. 
Thus  recruiting  was  diminishing  while  desertion  was  increasing.  The  withdrawal 
of  tens  of  thousands  of  the  most  industrious  and  productive  of  our  population  from 
their  various  industries  created  a  great  demand  for  labor.  Wages  rose,  and,  with 
the  depreciation  of  currency,  everything  else  rose,  too.  The  recruit,  with  the  cer- 
tainty of  employment  and  good  wages  at  home,  was  not  to  be  obtained  for  the  mea- 
gre pay  of  a  soldier.  If  he  had  a  family,  it  had  to  be  provided  for,  and  if  he 
hadn't,  no  discrimination  could  be  made  against  him,  and  he  was  paid  as  if  he  had. 
Thus  came  bounties  and  heavy  burthens,  far  beyond  the  expenses  which  appeared 
in  the  settlements  of  the  national  treasury,  or  the  aggregate  of  the  national  debt. 
As  the  war  made  heavier  draughts  upon  labor,  wages  advanced  further,  and  with 
them  bounties  advanced,  till,  with  national,  county  and  city  bounties,  and  advance 
pay,  the  recruits  under  the  last  call  of  300,000  men,  December  24th,  1864.  were  paid 
nearly  §1,000  each,  before  they  had  gone  into  camp. 


BOUNTIES  AMD  WAR  EXPENSES. 

The  first  appropriation  by  the  ci^y  fur  war  purposes  was  one  of  $10,000,  made 
on  the  20th  of  April,  for  the  support  of  our  three-months  volunteers.  Others  wei-e 
frequently  made  for  the  purchase  of  wood,  provisions,  and  other  necessaries  of  des- 
titute families.  In  August,  18(54,  a  purchase  of  two  hundred  cords  of  wood  was 
made,  and  in  the  winter  $3,500  was  appropriated  Contributions  of  fuel  and  food 
were  occasionally  made  all  over  the  State  by  the  famers,  who  appointed  a  day  to 
move  in  procession  through  streets  of  the  chief  towns,  with  wagons  loaded  with 
wood,  flour,  potatoes,  meats,  vegetables  and  fruitsr  to  some  point  of  deposit.  Tens 
of  thousands  of  dollars  worth  were  thus  collected  and  distributed  by  duly  appointed 
agents.  Very  many  farmers  vied  with  each  other  who  should  give  most,  and  make 
the  most  striking  display,  and  wagons  carrying  five  and  even  ten  cords  of  wood, 
and  others  with  mountains  of  food,  were  no  unfr  quent  sights.  Several  of  these 
were  witnessed  in  Indianapolis.  Large  sums  both  for  soldiers  and  their  families 
were  rais-d  by  fairs,  and  by  private  contributions.  Those  for  the  former  were 
managed  by  the  State  S-initary  Commission,  directed  by  Wm.  Hannaman  and 
Alfred  Harrison.  The  others  were  distributed  as  the  occasion  prompted.  A  State 
Sanitiry  Fair  was  held  in  the  old  Fair  Ground,  at  the  time  of  the  State  Agricul- 
tural Fair  of  1864,  at  which  $40,000  were  raised.  During  the  continuance  of  the 
Sanitary  Commission  there  were  raised  and  distributed  $606< 570  78.  Besides  the  sum 
of  $16,040  50  contribted  to  the  United  States  Sanitary  Commission  from  Indiana, 
$4,566,398  06  was  paid  by  counties,  townships  and  towns  for  like  purposes,  making 
the  total  of  contributions  of  this  character,  in  this  State,  about  $5,200.000. 

Expenses  incurred  for  the  support  of  soldiers'  families,  though  in  the  aggregate 
of  private  and  public  contributions  larger  than  the  expenses  for  recruiting  volun- 
teers, yet  form  but  a  small  part  of  the  accounts  of  the  cif.y  treasurer.  The  heaviest 
items  there  were  made  by  bounties.  Until  the  political  opposition  to  the  war  began 
to  make  itself  formidable,  and  desertion  had  diffused  discouraging  feelings,  and  the 
largedivers  on  of  labor  to  the  army  had  raised  wages,  nobody  thought  of  bounties 
Families  were  left  to  the  care  of  neighbors  and  the  irregular  assistance  of  the  paymas- 
ter.  But  war  was  found  to  be  a  very  serious  business,  and  began  to  be  viewed  with 
a  business  eye.  The  soldier  had  to  be  assured  of  something  safer  than  a  neighbor's 
care  of  his  family.  He  looked  out  for  it  himself,  and  the  bounty  was  the  provision 
for  it  which  he  exacted.  At  first  it  was  light.  In  the  fall  of  1862  the  city  appro- 
priated $5,000  for  bounties,  which  lasted  till  Ma)',  1863.  Considerable  expense 
was  incurred  for  the  city  regiment  during  the  alarm  created  by  Morgan's  raid. 
On  the  14th  of  December,  1868.  an  appropriation  of  $25,000  was  made  for  bounties, 
and  additional  sums  were  raised  by  committees  in  the  different  wards.  A  draft 
was  avoided  by  thus  filling  our  quota  with  volunteers.  During  the  summer  of  1864 
the  old  regiments  which  had  re-enlisted  for  three  years  more,  as  nearly  all  from 
this  State  did,  were  allowed  to  return  home  on  a  furlough,  and  their  receptions? 
sometimes  of  daily  occurrence,  were  one  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  the  war 
as  it  could  be  seen  in  this  latitude.  The  Seventeenth  Regiment,  one  of  these,  upon 
re-enlisting,  credited  itself  to  this  city,  that  is,  enlisted  as  coming  from  the  city, 
and,  to  the  number  composing  it,  made  a  set  off  against  any  subsequent  draft.  No 
bounty  was  asked  at  the  time.  But  subsequently,  as  some  of  the  men  complained, 
naturally  enough,  that  they  got  nothing,  when  others,  raw  recruits,  got  hundreds 
of  dollars,  the  Council  gave  them  $5,355.  On  the  suggestion  of  Gov.  Morton,  the 
Govertors  of  Ohio,  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  Iowa  met  in  this  city  April  24,  1864, 
and  urged  the  President  to  accept  the  services  of  a  large  body  of  men,  85,000,  from 
these  States,  for  one  hundred  days,  to  guard  General  Sherman's  communications 
during  his  "  march  to  the  sea."  The  President  consented,  and  the  city's  quota  of  the 


124 


UOULOWAY^S  IXBIASAPOLIS. 


7,5:15  assign  d  to  this  State,  was  raised  at  ones.  The  C  mneil  appropriated  $5,000 
for  the  support  of  their  families.  Our  regiment,  under  Col.  Sam,  C.  Vance,  Lieut. 
Col.  Cramer  and  Major  Harvey  Bates,  Jr.,  did  jrooi  service.  Undor  the  call  for 
300,000  men,  of  October  17,  1863,  increased  on  the  1st  of  Februiry,  1864,  to  500,000) 
and,  on  the  14th  of  March,  to  700,000,  no  draft  was  made.  The  State's  volunteers 
filled  her  quota,  with  2,493  men  to  spare.  On  the  18th  of  July,  13G4.  a  call  for 
500,000  more  men  was  made,  and  the  city's  quota  was  fixed  at  1.258.  For  the  first 
time  our  citizens  had  to  bestir  themselves  to  avoid  a  draft.  Meetings  were  heid 
during  the  summer  to  rai-e  subscriptions  for  bounties,  nnd  to  procure  volunteers, 
with  considerable  but  not  sufficient  success.  Some  $40,000  wa?  subscribed,  and 
about  800  men  enlisted,  but  the  d-aft  on  the  28  h  of  Se'ptembsr  found  us  450  men 
short.  The  diafted  men  raised  a  considerable  sum  to  procure  substitutes,  but,  the 
prospect  looking  dark,  the  Ci'y  Council  made  two  appropriations,  one  September 
28th  for  $92,000,  and  one  October  3d,  for  $40,000,  to  assist  them,  and  during  Octo- 
ber and  November  the  quota  was  filled,  at  an  expense  of  $180,000.  On  December 
20th,  1864,  another,  and  the  last  call,  for  troops  was  mad.j.  The  whole  number 
demanded  was  300.000,  and  the  State's  quota  was  22.532.  of  which  2,493  had  been 
paid  by  O7er-enlistment  on  the  preceding  call.  The  Mayor,  Mr  Caven,  made 
repeated  recommendations  of  appropriations  for  bounties,  to  fill  the  city's  quo:a, 
and  the  Council  responded  by  giving,  first,  the  unexpended  balance  of  a  preceding 
appropriation,  $2,500,  and  next  $20,000.  This  didu't  amount  to  much,  and  in  Jan- 
uary, 1865,  the  Mayor  urged  further  appropriations  and  drafting  by  wards.  The 
Council  ordered  $125,000  to  be  paid  in  $150  bounties,  with  $10  premium  for  recruits. 
Three  days  after  th"y  raised  the  bounty  to  $200.  and  sent  an  agent  to  Washington 
to  obtain  an  order  for  drafting  by  wards.  Thi*  order  wa?  made,  and  in  February 
the  Council  appropriated  $400  to  every  m-in  who  should  be  drafted,  if  he  had  pur. 
chased  a  $50  city  order.  Petitions  were  presented,  February  22d,  1364,  from  4,400 
citizens  asking  that  $400,000  be  raised  by  city  bonds,  to  pay  bounties  and  fill  the 
quota.  An  ordinance  to  this  effoct  was  passed,  and  the  bonds  prepared  and  sent  to 
New  York,  but  none  were  sold.  On  th^  6th  of  March  §100.000  w  is  borrowed  of 
five  banks,  in  $20.000divisions,  on  out  bonds,  at  12  percent.,  and  this  was  appropriated 
in  $4,00  bounties.  The  quota  was  at  last  nearly  filled,  when  it  was  ascertained  that 
a  blundering  blockhead  of  the  War  Department  had  made  a  big  mistake  in  assigning 
the  city's  credits  for  volunteers,  and  that  the  quota  was  full,  with  hundreds  to  spare. 
Over  a  fourth  of  the  loan  was  thus  saved.  Th.>,  war  expen-es  from  May,  1864,  to 
May,  1865,  which  included  the  bulk  of  bounty  appropriations,  amounted  t<> 
§718.179.  The, entire  war  expenditure  was  about  $1,000,000. 

These  heavy --appropriations  necessarily  left  heavy  debts.  But,  as  the  city  was 
flourishing  with  amazing  vigor,  heavy  taxes  were  impose  i,  usually  running  from 
§1.50  to  $1  75  on  the  $100,  aii  paid,  and  at  tli3  close  of  th;  war  the  debt  was 
$368,000.  This  has  since  been  paid  off,  but  a  new  one  has  recently  been  contracted 
for  the  construction  of  sewerage  and  other  expenses,  the  amount  of  which  is 
about  $400,000.  Our  debt  in  1849  was  $6,000.  It  was  nearly  paid  by  a  special  tax 
in  1850,  but  in  1851  it  was  $5,400,  all  paid  but  $557  in  1854.  ;In  1855  it  was 
810,000,  and  in  1856  $15,300.  A  loan  was  ordered  to  be  made  in  New  York  to  pay 
it,  and  Jerry  Skeen  appointed  agent  t>  negotiate  it.  An  account  of  his  defalcation 
has  been  given.  The  effect  of  it  was  that  the  city  drbt  rose  to  $23,740  in  1857.  In 
1859  it  was  reduced  to  $9,300,  raised  to  Sll,500  in  I860,  and  to  $46,000  in  1861- 
In  1862  it  was  reduced  to  $16,500.  In  1853  it  was  reduced  to  $11,250,  and  subse- 
quently paid  off.  The  city  was  virtually  out  of  debt  that  year.  The  war  and  the 


y  HILL   '.E3IETEKY-FB.EXD&ESS  WOWEX'S  HOME. 

increased  expenses  creite.l  by  higher  wag  s,  salaries  and  prices  made   the  debt,  as 
before  stated,  $268,000  in   1863. 

The  improvemeut  of  the  city  m  ly  be  judged  from  the  reports  of  building  per- 
mits and  strert  work.  la  1865 — the  first  full  statement  under  the  ordinance  of 
1864 — there  weie  issued  permits,  in  ihe  city  and  its  additions,  for  1,621  buildings, 
costing  §2,060,000;  9  miles  of  streets  and  18  miles  of  sidewalks  were  graded  and 
and  graveled,  1  mile  oft  streets  bouldered,  4  miles  of  sidewalk  paved,  and  3 
miles  of  streets  lighted.  la  1866  there  wore  erected  1,1 1=2  houses,  at  a  cost  of 
$1,065,000;  8£  miles  of  streets  and  l&of  sidewalks  were  gr»d>d  and  gravt-led,  the 
third  of  a  mile  bouldered,  2  miles  of  sidewalk  pivecl,  and  3  miles  lighted.  In' 1867 
the  houses  built'  and  repaired  were  747,  costing  $902,520;  of  streets  4J  miles  and 
of  sidewalks  9  miles  were  graded  and  graveled,  less  than  half  a  mile  bouldered,  2] 
miles  of  sidewalk  paved,  and  4.V  miles  of  streets  lighted.  Since  1807  irnpiovements 
have  increased  in  number  and  value  largely,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  table  appended 
to  this  chapter. 

Besides  these  indispensable  improvements  others  have  been  made  of  the  char- 
acter which  add  either  to  tho  beauty  or  convenience  of  the  city,  and  the  possession 
of  which  is  usually  considered  the  test  »f  public  spirit  andsgeninue  city  develop- 
ment. First  among  t-hese  is  Crown  Hill  Cemetery.  After  the  old  cemetery  had 
been  extended  to  tho  river  on  the  west,  and  the  Terie  Haute  Railroad  on  thd  nonb. 
it  was  found  that  before  many  years  the  space  would  b«  insufficient,  and  the  pres- 
sure of  business  would  probably  displace  the  dead  and  cover  their  graves  with 
shops,  factories  and  mills.  To  provide  against  this  certain  though  remote  difficulty 
an  association  was  formed  on  the  2.5th  of  September..  1833,  with  James  M.  Ray  a.« 
President,  Theodore  P.  Haughey  as  Secretary,  and  Stoughton  A.  Fletcher,  Jr.,  Treas'r, 
with  seven  directors.  S.  A.  Fletcher,  Sr.,  proposed  to  advance  the  money  necessary 
to  purchase  a  site,  and  a  committee  selected  the  nursery  farm  of  Martin  Williams 
ab  nit  three  miles  northwest  of  tho  city  on  the  Michigan  road.  At  one  end  of  it 
rises  a  verv  steep  hill,  the  highest  anywhere  near  the  city,  at  the  foot  of  which,  at  that 
time,  lny  a  wide  stretch  of  cleared  land  bordered  by  a  heavy  forest.  Two  hundred' 
and  fifty  acres,  embra  ing  this  hill,,  and  several  adjacent  tracts,  were  bought  for 
$51,500.  Mr.  F.  W.  Chislett  was  made  Superintendent,  and  early  in  1864  he  began 
laying  out  the  grounds.  In  1864  the  cemetery  was  dedicated.  Hon.  Albert  S.  White, 
formerly  United  States  Senator,  deliverin  the  orationg:  Lots  were  rapidly  bought 
by  leading  citizens,  and  beautiful  and  cosily  monuments-,  some  of  marble,  some  of 
Aberdeen  granite,  others  of  ordinary  stone,  have  been  erected.  It  is  now  a  beauti- 
ful place,  and  a  constant  resort  OT  fine  days.  The  cemetery  pays  no  dividends  ; 
every  lot  owner  is  a  stockholder.  The  profits  on  lots  sold  arc  expended  in  beautify- 
ing the  grounds: 

Tho  war  brought  its  evils,  and  not  a  few  of  thern^  along  with  its  benefits.  Among 
these  the  worst  was  the  inundation  of  prostitutes.  They  flaunted  their  gay  shame 
in  every  public  place.  Toey  crowded  decency,  in  its  own  defense,  out  of  sight. 
Their  b'ignios  polluted  every  street.  The  military  c  imps  we-e  not  always,  with  all 
the  vigilance  of  sentries  and  rigidity  of  disc-iplinc,  safe  from  their  noisome  intru- 
sion. The  jail  was  nightly  til  lei  with  tha  n  and  their  drunken  victims.  And  the 
remuneration  of  their  vice  was  so  ample  and  constant  that  a  fine  was  a  trifle.  Even 
of  it  could  not  be  paid,  the  alternative  of  a  few  days'  confinement  only  restored 
them  in  better  health,  with  stronger  allurements  and  appetites,  to  their  occupation- 
To  secure  some  alleviation  of  this  evil,  and  soma  ch-vnce  of  making;  punishment 
effectual  towards  reform,  the  Mayor,  in  May,  1862.  recon: mended  a  house  of  refuge' 


126 


IIOLLOWA  l"S   IHDIANAPOM8. 


where  abandoned  women  could  be  confined  alone,  and  subjected  to  a  discipline 
impossible  in  a  common  jail.  Nothing  was  done,  however,  till  the  summer  of  1863, 
On  the  27th  of  July  Stoughton  A.  Fletcher,  Sr.,  proposed  to  give  the  city  a  lot  of 
seven  acres  of  ground,  just  beyond  the  southern  s.iburb-.  on  the  "  Bluff  road."  if 
suitable  buildings  fur  a  House  of  Refuge  were  put  upon  it.  Plans  and  estimates 
were  made  by  Mr.  L).  A.  Bohlen,  architect,  and  an  effort  made  to  entrust  the  estab- 
lishment to  the  "  Sisters  of  the  Grid  Sbepherd  "  The  donation  was  accepted  on 
the  10th  of  August,  and  §5,000  appropriated  to  the  building,  which  was  to  be  used 
both  as  a  refuge  and  reformatory  school,  and  as  a  city  prison  f.>r  women.  A  com- 
mittee was  put  in  charge  of  the  enterprise,  and  contracts  made  in  the  fall.  Within 
a  year  the  basement,  solidly  and  handsomely  built  of  stone,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$8,000,  was  completed,  but  there  the  work  stopped.  1  he  contractor  broke  down 
under  the  great  advance  in  the  cost  of  labor  and  materials,  and  abandoned  it.  The 
start  was  excellent,  the  locition  is  admirable,  the  work  done  worthy  of  any  struc- 
ture that  can  b3  put,  upon  it,  the  institution  needed,  thj  coalition  of  the  donation 
binding,  and  the  citv  cught  to  fulfill  its  bargain  and  comp'etc  the  house.  One  part 
of  the  object  with  which  it  was  undertaken,  it,  is  true:  has  b3en  assumed  by  another 
institution,  the  Home  for  Friendless  Women,  but  there  is  enough  for  it  to  do  yet  to 
make  it  Well  worth  completion.  The  Home,  just  mentioned,  was  the  work  of  an 
association  formed  in  1866,  for  the  reformation  and  care  of  prostitJtes.  Experience 
had  proved,  by  repeated  successes  in  other  cities,  that  there  were  many  of  this  for- 
lorn class  who  honestly  desire  to  lead  a  better  life,  but  repelled  by  society  at  every 
approach,  they  were  ompelled  tj  continue  in  shame  to  avoid  starvation.  To  pro- 
vide for  these  both  a  h  >m3  and  a  school,  an  advance  iato  purity  and  a  means  of 
access  to  pure  society,  as  well  as  to  furnish  temporary  protection  to  meritorious  but 
necessitous  women,  the  association  established  their  Home.  They  at  first  rented  a 
building  in  the  Second  l^ard,  but  subsequently,  by  means  of  donations,  and  appro- 
priations from  the  Council,  erected  a  capacious  and  handsome  building  on  North 
Tennessee  street,  at  the  verge  of  the  city.  This  was  placed  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Sarah 
Smith,  a  Quaker  lady,  who  hal  long  been  active,  both  with  tongue  aad  pen,  in  every 
benevolent  work,  anl  w<ts  admirably  adapted  by  superior  iatalfect  and  firmness  ol 
character  to  the  duties  imposed  upon  her.  In  her  hands  the  ITome  was  successful 
beyond  expectation.  But  on  the  22d  day  of  September,  1870.  ihe  building  was 
almost  destroyed  by  fire,  and  a  serious  check  given  to  its  operations.  But  the  press 
urged  immediate  effort  by  lli3  citizens  anl  Council  t<>  rebuild  it,  and  examination 
showing  that  much  of  the  standing  walls  could  be  safely  used,  an  adequate  appro" 
priation  was  made  by  the  Council  and  a  considerable  sum  procured  by  donation, 
and  the  Home  will  soo:i  be  as  beneficently  at  work  as  before 

The  undoubted  convenience,  and  almost  uniform  success,  of  Street  Railways 
had  caused  the  suggestion  of  a  system  of  them  lu-re,  as  early  as  November,  1860 
but  nothing  was  done  till  June  5th,  1863,  when  a  company,  the  "  Indianapolis.  ' 
was  organized  under  the  State  law,  with  General  Tunnis  A  Morris  as  President, 
Wm  Y.  Wiley,  Secretary,  and  Win.  0  Rockwood,  Treasurer,  for  the  purpose  of 
constructing  one.  They  applied  to  the  Council  for  a  charter  on  the  24th  of 
August,  and  while  taeir  proposition  was  unler  disc.is*io:i.  another  company,  the 
'  Citizens',"  organized  by  R.  B.  Gather  wood  of  New  York,  with  John  A  Bridge- 
land  as  President,  and  a  number  of  our  capitalists  as  stockholders,  made  another 
proposition,  embracing  more  immediate  operations  and  a  gretter  length  of  servicea- 
ble track  within  a  given  time.  The  contest  was  hard,  and  not  free  from  hard 
words  and  injurious  insinuations.  Among  these  wa~  the  charge  that  the  latter 


STREET  RAILWAY. 

company  had  not  the  means  to  perform  iU  contract.  Tae  managers  put  down 
$30,000  in  cash,  and  offjred  a  bmd  of  $200,000,  as  security.  But  the  Council  gave 
the  charter  to  the  "  Indianapolis"  Company  December  1 1th.  It  was  declined  on  the 
28th.  Mr.  Catherwood  of  the  Citizens'  Company  was  notified,  and  he  agreed  to 
take  the  charter  and  reorganize  his  company.  On  the  18th  of  January  the  Citi- 
zens' Street  Railway  Company  was  given  a  perpetual  charter,  with  an  exclusive 
right  to  the  streets  •und  alley?,  for  thirty  years,  with  R.  B.  Culherwood  as 
President,  E.  C.  Catherwood  as  Secretary,  and  H.H  Catherwood  as  Superintend- 
ent. The  Companywere  permitted  to  lay  a  double  or  single  track  in,  or  on  each 
side  of,  the  centre  of  any  street  or  alley  of  the  city  or  its  subsequent  additions 
were  to  use  horse  earsonly;  to  put  the  track-;  on  the  level  of  the  street  grades;  to 
boulder  between  them  and  two  feet  on  each  side;  to  change  tracks  if  street  grades 
were  changed;  to  charge  five  cents  only  on  any  route;  to  complete  and  equip 
three  miles  by  October  1,  1864,  two  miles  more  in  a  year  more,  and  two  miles  addi- 
tional by  Christmas,  1866.  After  the  completion  of  these  seven  miles  the  Council 
retained  the  right  to  order  further  extensions,  the  Company  forfeiting  any  route  it 
failed  to  build  on  such  an  order ;  and  the  right  to  take  thu  tracks  at  an  appraisement, 
or  give  them  to  another  coinp-my,  if  ten  miles  were  not  completed  within  ten  years. 
The  Company  began  work  at  once,  but  the  Government's  occupancy  of  the  Rail- 
roads delayed  the  arrival  of  the  rails,  and,  on  their  request,  the  Council  extended 
for  sixty  days  the  time  for  the  completion  of  the  first  section  of  the  system.  The 
first  track  was  laid  on  Illinois  street,  from  the  Union  Depot,  and  this  was  opened 
ia  June,  1864,  by  the  Mayor  driving  a  car  on  it,  with  the  Common  Council  and  city 
officers  as  freight.  A  double  track  was  laid  on  Washington  street  from  Pennsylva- 
nia to  Illinois,  and  a  single  track  to  West  street,  running  north  on  the  latter  to  the 
Fair  Ground,  and  was  largely  used  during  the  Fair.  A  track  was  laid  on  Virginia 
avenue  in  ihefall;  another  run  up  Massachusetts  avenue  in  the  spring  of  1865,  and 
that  on  Washington  street  continued  to  the  river.  In  1866  the  latter  was  carried 
cas'ward  to  Fugue's  creek,  and  the  Illinois  street  track  extended  to  Tinker  street, 
and  to  Crown  Hill  Cemetery.  In  1868  a  line  was  run  dowu  Kentuek}*  avenue  and 
Tennessee  street,  by  which  all  the  northern  lines,  the  Washington  street  lines,  and 
those  entering  either,  connect,  through  a  track  on  Louisiana  street,  with  the  Illinois, 
street  line,  thus  enabling  passengers  to  run  round  the  whole  circuit  of  the  railway 
system  without  shifting  cars.  Thirty-two  cars,  mostly  for  two  horses,  long,  capa- 
cious and  superb,  were  first  put  upon  the  tracks,  and  kept  till  1868.  But  two  horses, 
with  the  double  expense  of  conductor  and  driver  for  each  car,  was  too  much,  and 
single  horse  cars  were  substituted  April  3d,  1868,  with  only  a  driver  and  a  box  for 
fares  Simultaneously  with,  or  shortly  after,  the  commencement  of  the  tracks, 
the  (Jompunv  began  erecting  stables,  car  houses  and  shoeing  shops  on  the  north- 
cast  corner  of  Tennessee  and  Louisiana  street?,  and  the  establishment  now  covers  a 
half  sqnare  in  length,  and  a  hundred  feet  or  more  in  breadth,  with  handsome  and 
durable  brick  bui'dings. 

As  above  remarked,  this  Company  encountered  serious  obstacles  in  the  begin- 
ning of  their  enterprise,  in  the  cost  of  iron,  in  the  difficulty  of  getting  it  here  at  any 
price  with  the  Government  occupancy  of  the  railroads,  and  in  the  high  price  of 
labor  They  further  increased  their  expeivse,  disproportionately  to  all  prospect  of 
speedy  remuneration,  by  extending *£beir  lines  to  thinly  populated  portions  of  the 
city.  The  convenience  of  access  to  remote  sections,  thus  afforded,  has  added  grca,t!y 
to  their  value,  but  not  much  to  the  revenues  of  the  Company.  Undoubtedly  a  profit 


will  come  from  the  outlay  as  the  city  grows,  but  for  the  present  they  have  benefited 
the  city  far  more  than  thcmse  ves  The  estimate  that  they  have  added  to  the  value 
of  real  estate  in  these  quarters  more  than  the  amount  of  their  capital  stock  (a  half 
million  of  dollars),  is  moderate.  The  emb  irra>sments  resulting  from  this  policy 
have  compelled  an  application  to  the  Council,  OUCH  or  twice,  for  relief  from  taxe^ 
and  the  charges  of  street  improvement.*,  and  the  Council  have,  fairly  enough,  granted 
some  advantigeous  exemptions,  until  the  increase  of  population  shall  supply  remu- 
nerative patronage.  It  is  believed  that  the  extension  of  one  of  the  present  lines-, 
"and  the  construction  of  one  other  short  line,  will  afford  ample  street  railway  fncili- 
tifs  for-a  population  of  one  hundred  thousand,  the  markset  by  many  for  the- census 
of  the  city  in  1880.  Then  the  enterprise  will  be  an  unequalled  investment.  Few 
cities  present  so  many  advantages  for  a  system  of  street  railways  at  once  efficient 
and  cheaply  maintained,  as  Indianapolis.  Its  streets  are  so  level  that  one  horse  or 
mulo  can  do  the  work  of  two  where  ttie  grades  are  heavier.  Besides,  the  team^ 
are  changed  four  times  a  day,  so  that  no  ar.imal  is  overtaxed,  unless,  as  will  some- 
times happen  in  spite  of  the  vigilance  of  men  and  officers,  a  careless  or  brutal  dri- 
rer  does  it  by  reckless  driving,  and  the  losses  from  abuse  or  exhaustion  are  propor- 
tionably  light.  There  are  DOW  seven  lines  in  operation,  with  an  aggregate  of  fif- 
teen miles  of  track,  fifty  cars,  one  hundred  and  fifty  horses  and  mules,  and  from 
fifty  to  seventy-five  drivers  and  other  employes  They  make  an  average  of  one 
thousand  trips  per  day,  at  a  cost  of  $60,000  to  $75,000  per  year.  The  principal 
stockholders  are  William  B.  English  and  E.  S.  Alvo  d  of  this  city,  and  Winslow, 
Lanier  &  Co.  and  J.  B.  Slawson  of  New  York. 

On  the  19th  of  April,  1864,  the  Council  created  a  Board -of  Public  Improve- 
ments, consisting  of  three  members,  with  the  City  Clerk  as  Secretary.  They  take 
charge  of  all  public  works  of  winterer  kind,  and  permits  are  obtained  of  them  to 
erect  private  buildings.  This-  allows  the  compilation  of  building  statistics,  previ- 
ously impossible. — In  1865  city  aid  was  voted,  upon  petition  of  many  citizens,  to 
the  amount  of  about  $200-000  to  four  lines- of  railroad,  the  Vincennes,  $60.000; 
Lii'liana  and  Illinois  Central,  845,000;  In  iiannpolis,  Bio  >rmn^ton  and  Western. 
$45  000;  Indianapolis  and  Cincinnati  Junction  $45.000  The?e  roads  have  all  been 
completed  and  are  in  full  operation,  exc-pt  the  I  and  I.  Central.  The  Cincinnati 
Junction  road  recL-ived  its  appropiiation  upon  the  express  condition  that  it  should 
place  its  machine  shops  in  this  city.  The  condition  has  been  utterly  disregarded. 
What  can  be  don*  about  it  is  not  clear,  as  the  road  has  the  money,  but  there  cer- 
tainly ought  to  be  some  remedy  for  such  dishonesty  as  this. — The  project  of 
building  a  station  house  was  urged  in  1866,  but  came  to  nothing.  It  has  since 
been  built  on  Alabama  street,  as  noticed  in  the  last  chapter. — In  1867  the  cor- 
ner *tone  of  the  Catholic  Cathedral,  South  Tennessee  street,  near  Georgia,  the 
largest  sacred  edifice  in  the  State,  and  the  costliest,  was  laid  with  imposing  ceremo- 
nies in  the  presence  of  a  vast  multitude  on  the  20th  of  July.  The  Cathedral  is  of 
Gothic  architecture,  two  hundred  and  three  feet  long,  and  seventy-five  feet  wide,  in 
the  form  of  a  Latin  cross,  with  vaulted  ceiling  sixty  feet  high,  a  row  of  chapels  on 
each  side  of  the  nave,  a  rose  window  eighteen  feet  in  diameter  over  the  main  door 
and  a  tower  at  each  corner  of  the  front  one  hundred  feet  high.  These  are  to  be  sur- 
mounted by  spires  adding  another  hundred  feet,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  the  building 
will  look  the  better  for  the  addition  The  southwest  quarter  of  that  square,  wr.h 
half  the  southeast  quarter,  is  covered  with  building--  devoted  to  the  uses  cf  the 
Catholics,  including  a  splendid  school  house,  St.  John's  church,  Bishop's  residence, 
the  female  school  of  the  Sisters  of  Providence,  and  the  Cathedral.  St.  John's 


PORK  HOUSES-PARKS. 

Infirmary,  on  Maryland  street,  in  the  former  residence  of  James  Sulgrove,  belongs 
to  the  same  collection,  as  does  the  adjoining  lot  on  the  east.  With  the  corner  lot 
on  Tennessee  and  Maryland  streets,  the  church  would  have  the  entire  west  half  of 
that  square,  with  a  portion  of  the  other  half.  It  is  Catholic  headquarters  in  Indi- 
anapolis. 

In  1864  the  Kingan  Brothers,  who  were  largely  engaged  in  packing  and  ship- 
ping meats,  not  only  in  this  country,  but  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  Liverpool,  Englandj 
and  Melbourne,  Australia,  desiring  a  Western  slaughtering  and  packing  establish- 
ment, determined  to  locate  it  here,  on  the  river,  at  the  foot  of  Maryland  street, 
instead  of  in  Cincinnati.  They  built  what  was  then,  and  probably  is  yet,  the  largest 
single  building  devoted  to  that  business  in  the  United  States-.  They  opened  it  with 
a  very  successful  season  in  the  winter  of  1864-65,  but  in  the  spring  it  caught  fire 
and  was  almost  entirely  destroyed,  with  an  immense  amount  of  lard,  bulk  meat 
and  hams  in  it.  The  loss  was  about  $240,000,  the  heaviest  ever  incurred  in  our 
city.  The  structure  was  immediately  rebuilt,  on  the  uninjured  portions  of  the 
walls,  of  the  same  dimensions  as  before,  except  that  it  was  left  a  story  or  two  lower. 
It  has  since  been  in  constant  use,  summer  as  well  as  winter,  in  slaughtering  and 
packing  cattle,  hogs  and  sheep. — In  1868  Mr.  J.  C.  Ferguson,  one  of  the  oldest  of 
the  city  packers,  built  a  house  but  little  less  than  that  of  the  Kingans,  just  south 
of  it,  and  has  done,  probably,  more  pork  packing  than  any  other  establishment. 
These,  and  all  the  pork  houses  of  the  city  will  be  noticed  more  fully  in  the  chapter 
assigned  to  that  subject. — In  1868  Mr.  Valentine  Butsch  and  Mr.  Dickson  bought 
Miller's  half  finished  block  on  Illinois  and  Ohio  streets,  and  changed  it  into  a  large, 
commodious  and  beautiful  theatre,  inferior  to  few  in  the  largest  cities,  and  called 
it  the  Academy  of  Music.  It  was  opened  in  the  winter  of  1868-69.  It  will  be 
noticed  more  fully  in  the  chapter  upon  "Amusements." — In  1868,  1869  and  1870, 
the  ceremony,  first  instituted  by  the  women  of  the  South,  of  decorating  the  graves 
of  soldiers  with  flowers  on  the  30th  of  May,  was  observed  here,  in  1869,  especially, 
with  a  degree  of  unanimity  never  witnessed  since  the  end  of  the  Fourth  of  Jnly 
celebrations.  It  was  conducted  by  the  ladies,  under  the  suggestion  of  the  Society 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Kepublic,  and  was  made  a  holiday  by  the  entire  com- 
munity. 

In  the  spring  of  1868  the  heirs  of  Calvin  Fletcher,  Sr.,  who  died  in  1866, 
proposed  to  donate  to  the  city  thirty  acres  of  land,  at  its  northeastern  corner, 
for  a  park,  upon  condition  that  it  should  be  forever  kept  as  a  park,  that  $30,000 
should  be  expended  upon  it  within  a  given  time,  and  the  heirs  be  allowed  to 
designate  one  of  the  commissioners  to  improve  it.  For  no  better  reason  than  a 
belief  that  the  donation  was  prompted  by  a  desire  to  draw  fashionable  residences  in 
that  direction,  and  thus  enhance  the  value  of  the  vast  tract  of  Fletcher  property 
in  the  vicinity,  the  proposal  was  declined.  Parks  have  been  made  in  the  old  Fair 
Ground  and  University  Square,  however,  and  though  far  too  inadequate,  they  will 
be  a  great  relief  to  the  monotony  of  walls  and  pavements.  The  Military  Park,  as 
it  is  called,  is  finely  laid  out  with  walks  and  drives,  entirely  covered  with  luxuriant 
grass,  studded  with  some  fine  old  trees,  and  recently  set  with  plenty  of  young  ones, 
and  has  a  large  basin  in  the  centre,  with  a  fountain  spouting  from,  and  tumbling  its 
waters  down  upon,  an  imitation  of  a  natural  rocky  summit,  which  rises  out  of  the 
little  lake.  George  Merritt,  the  Commissioner,  has  the  merit  of  the  laying  out  of 
this  park.  Last  summer  a  band  of  music  performed  there  on  Thursday  evenings 
and  were  paid  by  subscriptions  obtained  mainly  by  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Henry  E. 
(9) 


130  nOLlOWATB  INDIANAPOLIS. 

Church,  who  had  the  concerts  in  his  charge.  It  is  a  place  of  constant  resort,  and 
will  become  more  a  necessity  as  the  city  grows. 

la  1867  a  new  rolling  mill  company  was  formed,  and  a  mill  built  as  soon  as 
practicable  afterwards,  to  roll  bar,  rod  and  ordinary  merchantable  iron.  It  was 
controlled  by  Dr.  Winslow  8.  Pierce  and  Jas.  H.  McKernan.  It  did  well  for  a 
time,  but  failed  in  a  year  or  less,  and  was  bought  by  Messrs.  Butsch  and  Dickson, 
who,  after  running  it  successfully  for  a  few  months,  sold  it  to  a  company  mainly 
composed  of  German  citizens.  Steel  rails  and  bars  have  been  made  in  it  of  excel- 
lent quality. — In  1869  a  company  of  six  German  residents  was  formed  to  make 
glassware  here.  In  the  fall  and  winter  their  building  was  erected  and  furnace  pre- 
pared, and  they  began  blowing  bottles,  vials  and  fruit  jars,  with  such  entire  success 
that  they  soon  got  an  order  from  Philadelphia  for  $40,000  worth  of  fruit  jars.  The 
sand  was  brought  at  first  from  the  Fall  Creek  bluffs,  near  Pendleton,  and  was  a 
friable  sand-stone  needing  to  be  "stamped"  to  be  used,  but  latterly  river  sand  has 
been  successfully  used,  and  is  cheaper.  During  the  past  summer  they  have  erected 
another  blowing  house,  and  have  just  put  up  an  extensive  warehouse  for  the  stor- 
age of  their  goods.  The  works  cover  nearly  a  half  square  on  Kentucky  avenue 
and  Merrill  street. — During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1870  the  County  Board,  with 
the  assistance  of  a  considerable  sum  subscribed  by  the  citizens  interested,  erected 
a  handsome  iron  bridge  over  the  river,  at  the  foot  of  the  extension  of  Merrill  street, 
near  the  old  cemetery.  Each  span  will  bear  without  risk  seventy-five  tons,  or  a 
great  deal  more  than  will  ever  be  piled  upon  it. — During  the  past  year  Mercer, 
Nash  &  Co.  have  erected  buildings  and  begun  operations  in  making  car  wheels  on 
Merrill  street,  north  of  the  new  rolling  mill.  They  began  with  ten  wheels  a  day,  but 
are  now  making  eighteen.  They  have  more  demands  than  they  can  fill. 

The  two  chief  improvements  of  the  city,  since  the  introduction  of  gas  and 
street  railways — water  supply  and  sewerage — are  now  in  progress,  and  belong  to 
the  year  1870.  The  first,  as  already  noticed,  was  a  project  of  several  years  standing. 
It  became  a  reality  during  the  winter  of  1869.  The  sketch  of  the  struggle  through 
which  it  passed  need  not  be  repeated  here.  <It  is  enough  to  say  that  it  was  strenu- 
ously, and  not  altogether  disinterestedly,  resisted,  mainly  on  the  ground  that  it  was 
merely  a  "feich''  to  enable  the  owners  of  the  canal  to  force  its  sale  upon  the  city 
at  their  own  price.  It  was  to  supply  the  water  for  distribution  as  well  as  for  motive 
power,  and  with  the  system  once  established,  it  would  be  indispensable,  let  its  price 
be  what  it  might.  The  water  company  met  this  charge  by  proposing  Co  take  water 
for  distribution  from  wells  supplied  by  percolation  from  the  river,  to  use  the  canal 
only  for  motive  power,  and  even  for  that  only  as  the  alternative  of  steam,  binding 
themselves  to  maintain  both,  and  the  steam  at  all  events ;  and,  finally,  if  the  city 
wished  in  time  to  buy  the  works,  the  canal  should  not  be  included.  These  proposi- 
tions demolished  all  objections  and  the  charter  was  granted. 

The  sewerage  system  had  been  suggested  scores  of  times  in  the  past  score  of 
years,  but  in  1865  three  engineers,  James  W".  Brown,  Frederick  Stein  and  Lazarus 
B.  Wilson,  were  appointed  by  the  Council  to  devise  a  general  system  and  make  the 
necessary  surveys.  In  1868  a  tax  of  fifteen  cents  was  levied  for  sewerage  purposes, 
and  a  small  sewer  constructed  on  Kay  street,  from  Delaware  street  to  the  creek,  into 
which  it-empties  a  square  east  of  West  street.  It  cost  $16,500.  A  year  after  an  at- 
tempt was  made  to  construct  a  sewer  on  South  street,  but  the  plan  of  it  was  objected  to, 
injunctions  obtained  against  it,  and  it  was  abandoned.  During  the  winter  of  1869-70 
Mr.  Moses  Lane,  an  eminent  engineer,  who  has  made  sewerage  a  specialty,  was  invited 
by  the  Committee  on. Public  Improvements  to  examine  the  city  with  reference  to  its 


SEWERAGE—  COUBT  BOUSE. 

drainage,  and  after  a  survey  of  a  few  days,  he  furnished  a  plan  (charging  the  trifling 
sum  of  $1,800  therefor),  which  was  adopted,  and  contracts  let  in  the  summer  for  a 
trunk  sewer  from  Washington  street  to  the  river  on  Kentucky  avenue,  on  South 
street  from  Kentucky  avenue  to  Noble  street,  down  Noble  to  Fletcher  avenue,  at  the 
city  boundary,  and  on  Illinois  street  from  Washington  to  South.  The  sewer  on  Illi- 
nois street  is  in  progress,  and  is  laid  of  heavy  drain  pipe.  The  trunk  sewer  is  eight 
feet  in  diameter,  faced  at  the  river  with  dressed  stone,  provided  with  "  man  holes  " 
for  each  square,  and  "  catch  basins ''  at  all  street  crossings  to  collect  the  gutter  water 
and  clean  it  of  sediment  before  allowing  it  to  enter  the  sewer,  It  is  made  of  brick, 
three  widths  of  a  brick  (a  foot)  thick,  laid  in  hydraulic  cement,  and  plastered 
heavily  with  cement  on  the  outside  as  it  is  finished.  The  work,  so  far,  has  been 
admirably  done.  The  contractors  are  Wirth  &  Co.,  of  Cincinnati.  It  was  pub- 
licly charged,  while  the  contracts  were  pending  under  a  motion  to  reconsider  the 
letting,  thai  corruption  had  been  used  to  obtain  support,  and  overcome  the  differ- 
ence in  favor  of  the  bids  of  Symonds,  Hyland  &  Co.,  of  this  city,  but  as  the  con- 
tract was  confirmed,  and  the  work  energetically  begun  and  thoroughly  well  done, 
the  affair  was  dropped  and  nothing  came  of  it  but  a  good  deal  of  newspaper  objur- 
gation. The  contracts  now  unfinished  amount  to  about  $180,000. 

In  the  winter  of  1870  large  "additions  "  of  some  of  the  best  built  parts  of  the 
city  were  made  by  the  Council,  against  the  strong  protests  of  the  residents,  who 
wanted  to  enjoy  city  advantages  without  paying  city  taxes.  Something  like  two 
thousand  inhabitants  were  added  by  this  accession.  It  embraced  a  large  section  of 
suburban  villas  on  the  north,  south,  west  and  east.  An  attempt  to  do  this  in  1865 
was  defeated. 

In  1870  preparations  were  made  for  the  erection  of  the  new  Court  House. 
Many  objections  were  made  to  the  plan  (shown  in  the  illustration),  as  too  costly ; 
many  complaints  were  made  of  the  attempt  of  the  Commissioners  to  secure  a  heavy 
loan  to  build  it;  an  injunction  was  obtained  prohibiting  them  from  issuing  the  bonds 
as  they  proposed;  and  many  wanted  the  south  half  of  the  Square  sold  (for  it  would 
have  brought  an  immense  sum),  and  the  proceeds  applied  to  the  erection  of  a  house 
on  the  north  half.  Nobody  seemed  entirely  satisfied,  but  so  many  were  dissatisfied 
with  different  features  that  no  opposition  could  be  made  effective,  and  the  work  was 
"  placed  on  the  stocks  "  about  as  the  County  Board  designed  itl  The  old  house 
associated  with  the  history  of  the  State  from  1825  to  1835,  and  with  that  of  the  city 
during  nearly  its  whole  career,  was  torn  down,  and  the  excavation  of  the  cellar 
begun.  A  description  is  unnecessary,  as  the  admirable  engraving  will  give  a  bet- 
ter idea  of  the  completed  structure  than  any  description  could  do. — The  Reforma- 
tory School  for  Females,  authorized  by  the  Legislature  in  1869,  has  been  com- 
menced just  beyond  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  city,  near  the  National  road,  and 
will  soon  be  one  of  the  most  attractive  edifices  we  have.  It  is  intended  to  be  for 
girls  what  the  House  of  Refuge  is  for  boys.  The  latter,  authorized  by  the  act  of 
1865,  is  now  in  full  operation  at  Plainfield,  fifteen  miles  west  of  the  Capital.  It 
has  over  200  inmates,  managed  upon  the  "Family  system,"  and  is  successful  beyond 
all  anticipation.  It  is  under  the  experienced  superintendence  of  Mr.  Frank  B. 
Ainsworth. 


THE   MUNICIPAL  GOVERNMENT — FIRE   DEPARTMENT — POLICE. 

history  of  the  Government  of  Indianapolis,  like  the  general  history,  may  be 
divided  into  four  periods.  1st.  The  period  from  the  first  settlement  to  1832. 
This,  to  make  a  pardonable  '-bull,"  was  the  period  of  "No  Municipal  Govern- 
ment," the  general  laws  of  the  State,  and  the  officers  created  by  them,  sufficing  for 
the  limited  necessities  of  the  village.  2d.  The  period  of  "Trustee  Government," 
from  1832  to  1838,  when  the  town  was  managed  by  five  Trustees.  3d.  The 
period  'of  "  Town  Government,"  by  the  Council  alone,  from  1838  to  1847.  4th.  The 
period  of  "City  Government,"  with  a  Mayor  and  Council,  from  1847  to  this  time. 
Several  minor  changes  in  each  of  these  periods  will  be  briefly  noticed.  Of  the  first 
period  nothing  need  be  said. 

Second.  The  first  incorporation  was  resolved  upon  by  a  meeting  of  citizens  held 
»t  the  Court  House  on  the  3d  of  September,  1832,  and  the  day  for  an  election  fixed- 
It  was  made  under  the  general  law,  not  by  a  special  act.  Five  Trustees  were  elected 
by  a  general  vote,  and  the  town  divided  into  five  wards,  all  contained  within  the 
original  plat.  The  1st  Ward  embraced  all  east  of  Alabama  street ;  2d,  from 
Alabama  to  Pennsylvania;  3d,  from  Pennsylvania  to  Meridian — this  single  tract  of 
a  square  in  width  shows  where  the  densest  portion  of  the  town  lay ;  4th,  from 
Meridian  to  Tennessee  ;  5th,  from  Tennessee  westward.  Samuel  Henderson,  whose 
death  in  California  was  recently  announced,  was  elected  by  the  Board  of  Trustees 
as  their  first  President.  A  general  ordinance  of  portentous  length  (thirty-seven 
s-ections)  for  the  magnitude  of  the  town,  was  published  on  the  1st  of  December. 
Offenders  were  prosecuted  by  the  Board,  in  its  own  name,  before  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  and  proceedings  were  required  to  be  commenced  within  twenty  days. 
Licenses  were  required  for  shows  and  liquor  shops,  and  the  usual  prohibitions  were 
made  of  dangerous  or  disturbing  acts,  either  of  omission  or  commission,  such  as 
firing  guns,  flying  kites, — this  latter  little  regarded  and  never  enforced — racing 
horses,  driving  over  walks, — there  were  none  in  those  days  that  could  be  injured 
much — leaving  cellar  doors  open,  teams  unhitched,  hogs  at  large,  wood  piles  on 
"Washington  street  over  twelve  hours,  or  shavings  anywhere  over  two  days ;  keeping 
stallions  on  "Washington  street,  and  the  like.  Markets  were  held  on  Wednesdays 
and  Saturdays,  for  two  hours  after  daylight,  regulated  by  a  special  ordinance 
enforced  by  a  Market  Master.  Hucksters  were  prohibited.  Elections  were  held  in 
September.  The  officers  were  President,  Clerk,  Treasurer,  Assessor,  Marshal  and 
Market  Master.  On  the  5th  of  February,  1836,  the  Legislature,  by  special  act, 
incorporated  the  town  and  legalized  the  work  of  the  Trustees.  Taxes  were  limited 
to  fifty  cents  on  the  hundred  dollars  of  real  estate,  and  their  collection  to' the  origi- 
nal town  plat,  though  the  whole  donation  was  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Trustees' 
No  other  change  of  any  consequence  was  made.  In  the  settlement  of  the  old  and 
the  new  Board,  April  1st,  1836,  the  receipts  for  the  year  preceding  were  shown  to 


CHANGES  IN  THE  CITY  GOVERNMENT. 

be  $1,610,  and  the  expenses  $1,486,  of  which  $1,150  was  paid  on  the  first  fire  engine, 
the  Marion.  The  balance,  $124  was  passed  to  the  new  administration. 

Third.  On  the  16th  of  February,  1838,  a  new  act  of  incorporation  was  passed 
by  the  Legislature,  making  no  change  in  the  power  of  taxation,  or  its  limit  of  appli- 
cation, but  authorizing  sales  of  property  for  delinquent  taxes,  and  increasing  the 
wards  to  six.  The  first  three  were  left  unchanged,  with  Alabama,  Pennsylvania 
and  Meridian  streets  as  boundaries,  but  the  4th  was  cut  off  at  Illinois  street,  making 
it,  like  the  third,  a  single  block  in  width,  across  the  plat;  the  5th  was  limited  to 
Mississippi  street,  and  the  6th  extended  from  Mississippi  westward.  The  principal 
change  was  in  the  election  and  power  of  the  President,  and  the  constitution  of  the 
Council.  The  former  was  chosen  by  a  popular  vote,  the  members  of  the  latter  by 
the  votes  of  their  respective  wards,  and  both  for  a  year.  The  President  had  a 
Justice's  jurisdiction,  and  the  Marshal  a  Constable's.  The  Council  was  empowered 
to  borrow  money,  levy  taxes,  (up  to  a  half  per  cent,  on  realty),  establish  licenses 
&c.,  and  the  members  were  paid  $12  per  year.  The  other  town  officers  were  elected' 
as  before,  by  the  Council.  The  new  Government  differed,  essentially,  but  little 
from  the  present  City  Government.  It  opened  the  four  streets  bounding  the  origi- 
nal plat,  elected  officers,  and  arranged  the  fire  department,  licenses,  &c. 

Fourth.  On  the  13th  of  February,  1847,  a  city  charter  was  granted  by  the  Legis- 
lature, and  adopted  by  a  vote  of  449  to  19,  on  the  27th  day  of  March.  A  free 
school  tax  was  authorized  by  about  the  same  vote  at  the  same  time.  This  charter 
created  seven  wards,  which  remained  unchanged  till  the  addition  of  the  8th  and  9th 
in  1861.  The  new  arrangement  divided  the  town,  including  the  whole  donation  east 
of  the  river,  by  Washington  street.  The  section  north  of  the  line  was  divided  into 
four  wards  by  Alabama,  Meridian  and  Mississippi  streets,  the  numbers  running  from 
east  to  west;  the  section  south  was  divided  into  three  wards  by  Illinois  and  Dela- 
ware streets,  the  numbers  running  from  west  to  east.  Elections  were  held  in  April. 
The  Mayor  was  elected  by  popular  vote  every  two  years,  and  one  Councilman  from 
each  ward  every  year.  The  former  had  the  jurisdiction  of  a  Justice  as  before,  with 
a  veto  upon  the  acts  of  the  Council.  The  latter  elected  their  own  President  and  all 
other  officers,  and  were  paid  $24  per  year.  They  could  not  levy  a  tax  exceeding 
fifteen  cents  on  the  hundred  dollars,  except  by  authority  from  the  people,  given 
in  a  special  election.  Samuel  Henderson,  the  first  ^President  of  the  Town 
Board  of  Trustees,  was  elected  the  first  Mayor.  This  charter  remained  essen- 
tially unchanged  till  1853.  The  limit  to  the  power  of  taxation  was  found  to  be  mis- 
chievous, and  a  proposition  was  made  to  remove  it,  but  without  effect,  in  1852.  In 
March,  1853,  the  general  charter  law  was  adopted  by  the  city.  This  changed  elec- 
tions to  May,  where  they  have  since  remained,  made  the  terms  of  all  offices  a  single 
year,  gave  two  Couucilmen  to  each  ward,  and  all  elections  to  the  people,  and  made 
the  Mayor  the  President  of  the  Council,  as  he  has  since  continued  to  be.  In  1857. 
March  16th,  the  amended  general  charter,  passed  by  the  Legislature,  was  adopted, 
This  made  the  terms  of  all  officers  two  years,  one  half  the  Council  going  out  every 
year.  In  1859  the  general  charter  was  again  amended  so  as  to  make  the  terms  of 
Councilmen  four  instead  of  two  years.  In  1861,  the  1st  Ward  was  divided,  and  the 
9th  made  of  the  eastern  half,  and  the  7th  divided,  the  8th  being  formed  of  the  east- 
ern section.  The  Councilmen  were  elected  from  the  new  wards,  but  political  influ. 
ences,  supported  by  alleged  defects  in  the  election,  kept  them  excluded  for  sev- 
eral months.  On  the  20th  of  December,  1865,  this  charter  gave  place  to  another, 
which  made  all  terms  of  office  two  years,  allowed  the  office  of  Auditor,  and  gave  the 
election  of  Auditor,  Assessor,  Attorney  and  Engineer  to  the  Council.  On  the  14th 


134 


SOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 


of  March,  1867,  this  was  again  changed  so  as  to  make  a  City  Judge,  and  give  the 
election  of  Mayor,  Clerk,  Marshal,  Treasurer,  Assessor,  and  Judge  to  the  people. 
John  N.  Scott  was  elected  City  Judge,  in  May,  1867,  and  served  two  years.  John 
G.  Waters  was  elected  City  Auditor,  at  the  creation  of  the  office,  and  served  four 
years.  Both  offices  were  abolished  in  1869,  the  duties  of  Judge  being  transferred 
to  the  Mayor,  and  those  of  Auditor  to  the  Clerk.  The  minor  offices,  as  Sexton, 
Printer,  Clerk  of  Markets,  Wood  Measurer,  and  the  like,  are  filled  by  the  Council. 
The  following  tables  of  officers  under  the  various  forms  of  municipal  govern" 
ment,  are  taken  from  Mr.  Brown's  work.  They  are  incomplete  simply  because  the 
city  records  were  all  burned  up  in  1851,  and  have  been  but  indifferently  kept  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  since.  A  good  deal  of  inquiry  and  investigation  have  elic- 
ited nothing  more  than  he  has  collected: 


TRUSTEES  FROM  1832  TO  1838. 


Year 

1st  Ward. 

2d  Ward. 

3d  Ward. 

4th  Ward. 

5th  Ward. 

1832 

John  Wilkins 

Henry  P.  Coburn 

John  G.  Brown 

Sam'l  Henderson 

Sam'l  Merrill 

1833 

«i           >i 

n             « 

Sam'l  Henderson 

John  Cain 

«        t< 

1834 

Alex  F.  Morrison 

L.  Dunlap 

Joseph  Lefevre 

J.  Van  Blaricum 

Nath'ICox 

1835 

.las.  M.  Smith 

Jos.  Lefevre 

Chas.  Campbell 

H.  Griffith 

N.  B.  Palmer 

1836 

G.  M.  Lockerbie 

John  Foster 

Sam'l  Merrill 

11      it 

John  L.  Young 

1837 

Lost 

Joshua  Soule 

Lost 

Lout 

Lost 

The  town  authorities,  during  this  period,  had  little  to  do,  and  could  have  done 
but  little  if  they  had  been  charged  with  more.  The  streets  were  lumpy  with 
stumps.  Trees  were  still  standing  full  sized  in  many  of  them  a  little  way  from 
Washington  street.  Mud-holes,  circumvented  by  roundabout  tracks  close  to  the 
fences,  and  by  foot-passengers  by  climbing  along  fences  past  the  deepest  places? 
were  common.  The  remains  of  more  than  one  or  a  dozen  of  these  may  still  be 
detected  by  a  heavy  rain.  The  "ravines"  tore  through  the  town  in  two  fierce  tor- 
rents in  wet  seasons,  flooding  houses  and  lots  from  New  Jersey  street  to  the  river. 
The  southern  one,  of  which  some  marks  may  still  be  seen  east  of  Alabama  street, 
near  the  present  City  Hall,  and  near  the  river  at  Kingan's  pork  house,  was  the 
largest;  but  the  northern  one,  which  left  marks  from  east  of  Mr.  Hervey  Bates' 
residence  along  down  to  the  West  Market,  did  more  mischief,  as  it  ran  through  a 
more  densely  populated  section.  The  valley  of  Pogue's  Creek  was  a  swamp  and 
thicket,  and  all  south  of  it  was  "  country."  Much  north  of  it,  to  Maryland  street,  was 
made  up  of  corn  fields  and  cow  pastures.  There  were  no  sidewalks  and  no  improve- 
ments that  amounted  to  anything. 


TABLE  OF  TOWN  OFFICERS. 


135 


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136 


HOLLOWAY'8  INDIANAPOLIS. 


Besides  these  more  important  offices,  there  were  several  others,  either  filled 
many  years  by  the  same  men  or  only  temporarily  filled,  which  can  be  presented  in 
this  note.  The  office  of  Market  Master  or  Clerk  was  filled  for  the  first  five  years, 
till  1837,  by  Fleming  T.  Luse,  a  cabinet  maker,  whose  shop  formerly  stood  where 
the  Branch  of  the  State  Bank  Building  is.  It  was  subsequently  held  for  nine  years, 
from  1837  to  1845,  by  J.  Wormagen.  During  1845  it  was  held  by  J.  Wormagen 
for  the  Bast  and  Jacob  Miller  for  the  West  Market,  and  in  1846  by  Miller  for  the 
West,  and  J.  B.  Fitler  for  the  East.  The  office  of  "  Collector"  was  held  by  the 
Marshal  till  1844,  with  the  exception  of  the  year  1837,  when  it  was  held  by  Wm. 
Smith.  From  \1844,  to  the  change  in  the  charter,  it  was  held  by  Henry  D.  Ohr. 
During  two  jears,  1834  and  1837,  James  Morrison  was  City  Attorney.  In  1838  the 
office  was  held  by  Hugh  O'Neal,  and  in  1846  by  John  L.  Ketcham.  It  was  not  so 
much  an  office  as  an  occasional  appointment.  The  office  of  Weighmaster  was 
held  by  John  F.  Eamsey  in  1836,  and  by  Adam  Haugh  from  1840  till  the  change 
of  the  charter.  There  was  no  Sexton  till  1843.  John  Musgrove  was  the  first,  suc- 
ceeded in  1844  by  John  O'Connor,  and  he  again  by  Musgrove  in  the  two  following 
years,  till  the  City  Government  came  in.  Thomas  M.  Smith  was  made  Fire  Engi- 
neer in  1846,  but  the  office  expired  with  the  charter,  and  was  not  renewed  till  1853. 
The  "Messengers"  of  the  Fire  Companies  were  officers  selected  to  take  charge  of 
the  apparatus,  and  were,  for  the  Marion,  David  Cox,  from  1843  to  1846,  and  for  the 
(Stood  Intent,  Jacob  B.  Fitler,  for  1845  and  1846. 


CITY  OFFICERS  FROM   1847  TO   1871. 

The  office  of  President  of  the  Council  is  omitted  from  this  list,  because  it  was 
little  more  than  nominal,  and  was  abolished  by  the  Amended  Charter  of  1852.  It 
was  held  successively  by  Samuel  S.  Hooker,  C.  W.  Cady,  (both  in  1847,)  Geo.  A. 
Chapman,  Wm.  Eckert,  A.  A.  Louden  and  D.  V.  Culley,  (both  in  1850,)  and  by 
D.  V.  Culley  till  abolished. 


Year. 

Mayor. 

Clerk. 

Treasurer. 

Marshal. 

Engineer. 

1847 

Sam'l  Henderson 

James  6.  Jordan 

f  Nathan  Lister 

Wm.  Campbell 

James  Wood  Sr. 

1  Henry  Ohr 

1848 

"           " 

ii         « 

James  Greer 

John  Bishop 

1849 

H.  C.  Newcomb 

/ 

J.  H.  Kennedy 

Sims  A.  Colley 

1J.  T.  Roberts 

1850 

(i           it 

ii           ii 

John  S.  Spann 

Benj.  Pilbean 

1851 

Caleb  Scudder 

D.  B.  Culley 

A.  F.  Shortridge 

Sims  A.  Colley 

1852 

"            " 

ii         ii 

ii            ii 

Elisha  McNeely 

1853 

"            " 

II                 <! 

1C                      1C 

Benj.  Pilbean 

1854 

James  McCready 

Jas.  N.  Sweetser 

"            " 

n          ii 

1855 

"               " 

Alfred  Stevens 

H.  Vandegrift 

Geo.  W.  Pitts 

Amzi  B.  Condit 

1856 

fH.  F.  West 
I  W.  J.  Wallace 

I  Fred.  Stela 

Francis  King 

Jeff.  Springsteen 

D.  B.  Hosbrook 

1857 

«           ii 

Geo.  H.  West 

ii            ii 

ii            ii 

Cl                        II 

1858 

S.  D.  Maxwell 

John  G.  Waters 

J.  M.  Jameson 

Aug.  D.  Rose 

James  Wood 

1859-60 

(i          11 

1C                     II 

II                   1C 

Jett.  Springsteen 

11                 1C 

1861-62 

<{          11 

•  <             II 

J.  K.  English 

f  D.  W.  Loucks 

f    "        " 

\  Jno.  Unversaw 

\  James  Wood  Jr. 

1863-U4 

John  Caven 

C.  S.  Butterfield 

II                   1C 

ii            ii 

Cl                      11 

1805-66 

11        H 

it            it 

W.  H.  Craft 

ii            ii 

f     " 

(  Joshua  Staples 

1867-GS 

Daniel  McCauley 

D.  M.  Ransdell 

Robert  S.  Foster 

II                      1C 

K.  M.  Patterson 

1869-70 

tt            ti 

C<                       II 

George  Taffe 

ci          *. 

TABLE  OF  CITY  OFFICERS. 


137 


Year. 

Attorney. 

Assessor. 

Street  Comm'r. 

Market  Master. 

Sexton. 

1847 

{A.  M.Carnahan 

Joshua  Black 

Jacob  B.  Pitler 

fS.  Barbee 

Benj.  F.  Lobaugh 

N.  B.  Taylor 

(Jacob  Miller 

1848 

Win.  B.  Greer 

Charles  I.  Hand 

John  Bishop 

ii           ii 

Jos.  I.  Stretcher 

1849 

Edwin  Cobnrn 

Henry  Ohr 

George  W.  Pitts 

ii           it 

ii               u 

1850 

Wm.  Wallace 

Samuel  P.  Daniels 

G.  Youngerman 

«i           it 

None 

1851 

Albert  G.  Porter 

L.Vallandingham 

Joseph  Butsch 

u           it 

Phillip  Socks 

1852 

"                «« 

Jacob  S.  Allen 

Hugh  Slaven 

ii           « 

it          ii 

1853 

N.  B.  Taylor 

Mat.  Little 

Wm.  Hughey 

Henry  Ohr 

ii          u 

1854 

u           « 

John  G.  Waters 

ii          ii 

Jacob  Miller 

George  BisMng 

1855 

it           ii 

Jas.  H.  Kennedy 

Jacob  B.  Filler 

Richard  Weeks 

John  Moffitt 

1856 

John  T.  Morrison 

John  B.  Stumph 

ii               ii 

Gco.  W.  Harlan 

A.  Lingenfelter 

1857 

Benj.  Harrison 

ii               ii 

Henry  Colestock 

Richard  Weeks 

John  Moffitt 

1858 

Samuel  V.  Morris 

D.  L.  Merriman 

ii               ii 

Charles  John 

ii          ii 

1859-60 

Byron  K.  Elliott 

B.  W.  Robinson 

ii               ii 

.1          ii 

Garris'n  W.AIlred 

1861-62 

Jas.  N.  Sweetser 

John  B.  Stumph 

John  A.  Colestock 

Thomas  J.  Foos 

11               ii 

1863-64 

Richard  J  .  Ryan 

r    ,i 

John  M.  Kemper 

J.  J.  Wenner 

ii              ii 

t  Wm.  Hadley 

1865-66 

Byron  K.  Elliott 

ii          u 

August  Richter 

Charles  Joan 

u               u 

1867-68 

"                      U 

ii          u 

II                         11 

Sampson  Barbee 

u               u 

1869-70 

ii              u 

11          ii 

August  Brumer 

G.  B.  Thompson 

Elisha  Hedges 

Year. 

% 
Fire  Engineer. 

Seal'rW'ts&M's. 

Prinler. 

Chief  Police. 

1847 

None 

None 

None 

None 

1848 

M 

M 

1849 

H 

" 

1850 

" 

" 

1851 

«« 

Sl's'm'n  &  Loc'm'tve 

1852 

I' 

Senlinei  &         " 

1853 

Joseph  Little 

Joseph  W.  Davis 

Locomolive 

Jeff.  Springsteen 

1854 

Jacob  B.  Filler 

John  T.  Williams 

Elder  &  Harkness 

" 

1855 

Chas.  W.Purcell 

ii              ii 

Charles  G.  Berry 

ii 

1856 

Samuel  Keeley 

H.  J.  Kelley 

Larrabee  &  Cot  torn 

f  J  .M  .  VanBlaricum 

\  Chas.  G.  Warner 

1857 

Andrew  Wallace 

J.  M.  Jameson 

Journal  Company 

Auguslin  D.  Rose 

1858 

Joseph  W.  Davis 

J.  G.  Hanning 

ii               ii 

Samuel  Lefevre 

1859-60 

f  J.  E.  Foudray 

C.  S.  Butterfleld 

u              u 

Auguslin  D.  Rose 

(.  Jos.  W.  Davis 

1861-62 

ii            ii 

James  Loucks 

it              11 

f     u                ii 

(  Thos.   A.  Ramsey 

1863-64 

Chas.  Richmann 

u           it  • 

Ellis  Barnes 

/Thomas   D.  Amos 

\Davirt  Powell 

1865-66 

u           ii 

f   " 

James  G.  Douglass 

Jesse  V»n  Blaricum 

(.Joseph  Bishop 

1867-68 

f  G.W.Buchanan 

Aug.  Bruner 

11               ii 

Thomas  S.  Wilson 

I  Chas.  Richmann 

1869-70 

11            ii 

Sam.  B.  Morris 

f   "               " 

f     "               " 

Daniel  Glazier. 

t  M.  G.  Lee 

(  Henry  Paul 

In  the  list  of  Printers,  Ellis  Barnes  and  James  G.  Douglass  are  substitutes  for 
the  Journal  proprietors.  The  office  of  Weigh  Master  was  created  in  1847,  and  first 
filled  by  John  Patton.  From  1848  it  was  held  by  Adam  Haugh  till  1855.  It  has 
not  been  filled  since. 


138  HOLLOW ATTB  INDIANAPOLIS. 

TABLE  OF    VOTES,   TAXABLES,   RECEIPTS  AND  EXPENDITURES, 


Year. 

Vote. 

Taxables. 

Receipts. 

Expenses. 

Str'ts  <fcc 

FireD'p. 

Police. 

Gas. 

Salaries 

1847 
1850 
1852 
1853 
1854 
1855 
1856 
1857 
1858 
1859 
1860 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 

468 
1,143 
1,300 
1,460 
2,012 
2,690 
2,776 
3,300 
3,343 
3,390 

$1,000,000 
2,326,185 

5,131,682 

$4,000 
9,237 

10,096 
20,500 

27,889 
32,697 

59,168 
87,262 
84,508 
79,132 
97,119 
125,011 
597,831 
409,704 
445,253 
431,669 
426,586 
429,355 

$4,800 
7,554 

7,030 
20,000 

46,105 
31,003 

56,442 
80,172 
84,508 
79,132 
97,487 
156,444 
854,391 
404,713 
331,525 
224,941 
234,408 
405,016 

810,232 
11,353 
16,249 
12,510 
12,668 
21.202 
21,612 
20,332 
27,207 
33,049 
24,327 
35,925 

$4,882 
5,986 
6,300 
9,693 
10,687 
18,473 
27.990 
23,416 
37,511 
27,509 
27,194 
23,633 

$4,771 
6,445 
7,648 
8,966 
10,988 
12,505 
15,220 
3,051 
38,164 
37,100 
29,423 
29,946 

$10,180 
10,662 
11,524 
12,040 
14,618 
9,638 
17,452 
27,528 
15,183 

9,146,670 
9,874,700 
10,475,000 
7,146,607 
10,700,000 

28,790 
15,653 
2,744 
18,809 
33,222 
20,240 
33,880 
52,186 
36,018 
31,804 
62,410 

3,468 

10,250,000 
18,578.683 
19,723,732 
20,913,274 
24,835,750 
25,500,605 
24,000,000 
22,000,000 
24,656,460 
30,000,000 

2,889 

2,341 

6,135 

5,640 

There  was  paid  for  jail  fees,  the  city  having  no  prison  of  its  own,  in  1863, 
$2,842;  1864,  $5,509;  1865,  $7,686;  1866,  $11,113;  1867,  $8,116;  1868,  $6,336; 
1869,  $2,871;  1870,  $4,197.  Bounties  paid  in  1863,  $5,010;  1864,  $35,155;  1865, 
$718,179;  1866,  $151,197;  186T  $70,575. 

* 

MAYOR'S  VOTE  SINCE  1859. 


Tear. 

Republican. 

Democrat. 

Rep. 
Maj. 

1859 

Samuel  D.  Maxwell  

1,895 

.  1,495 

400 

1861 

Samuel  D.  Maxwell  

2,076 

James  R.  Bracken  

..  1,390 

686 

1863 

2,899 

2,899 

1865 

John  Caren  

2,341 

No  Opposition  

2,341 

1867 

3,317 

B    0.  Shaw  

2  818 

499 

1869 

Daniel  Macauley  

...  2,843 

John  Fishback,  (Independent)... 

..  2,797 

4G 

BUILDINGS. 

Previous  to  1865  there  are  no  data  upon  which  to  base  even  an  estimate  of  the 
value  of  the  buildings  annually  erected  in  the  city.  But  in  1864  a  Board  of  Public 
Improvements  was  appointed  by  the  Council,  a  permit  from  which  was  required  for 
every  building,  the  estimated  cost  of  which  was  given.  The  first  report  was  in 
1865. 


Year. 

No.  Houses 
b'lt&rp'rd. 

Value. 

Miles  Str'ts. 

Cost. 

Miles  Sidew'ks. 

Cost. 

Bridges. 

1865 

1,621 

$1,860,000 

10 

22 

1866 

1,112 

1,065,000 

9 

18 

1867 

747 

902,520 

5 

11 

1868 
1869 
1870 

530 
720 
840 

805,796 
947,086 
1,213,879 

4% 

Cj| 
10 

$27,172 
40,740 
147,813 

ft 

*>S 

74-5 

$10,058 
26,669 
37,893 

$2,332 
1,684 
19,693 

ORIGIN  OF  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 
CITY  SALARIES. 


139 


Mayor                                83  000 

..    $800 

Fire  Engineer  81,400  00 

Clerk                                      1  800 

...      500 

Chief  of  Police  1,400  00 

Marshal   Fees  and      600 

Street  Commissioner 

..  1,400 
2  000 

Lieut.  Police.  ..per  day         3  50 
Market  Clerk  600  00 

Dep'ty  Marsh'l,  Fees  and      600 
Treasurer.  ..1%  per  cent,  and  5 
per  cent,  on  distraints 

..  1,800 

Sexton  Fees  and       5000 

..   Fees 

Sealer  VV'ts  &  Meas'rs,        Fees 

THE   FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

The  first  organization  for  protection  from  fires  was  made  on  the  20th  of  June, 
1826,  with  John  Hawkins  as  President,  and  James  M.  Ray  as  Secretary.  Its 
implements  were  ladders,  axes  and  buckets,  and  the  church  and  hotel  bells  rang  the 
alarm.  The  first  regular  fire  buckets  were  curiosities.  They  were  made  in  the 
town,  of  heavy  harness  leather,  painted  green  inside,  bound  with  a  leather-covered 
rope  around  the  mouth,  handled  by  a  leather  strap  for  a  bail,  and  shaped  somewhat 
like  a  lager  beer  keg,  bigger  in  the  middle  than  anywhere  else.  They  held  a  half 
bushel  or  thereabouts.  The  town  ordinance  required  one  or  more  to  be  kept  in 
every  house,  and  the  owners  name  to  be  painted  upon  them.  Their  awkward  shape 
made  them  of  little  value  for  use  directly  upon  a  fire,  for  with  the  narrow  mouth, 
obstructed  by  a  broad  strap,  it  was  impossible  to  throw  more  than  a  third  or  half 
of  .the  contents  out  at  once,  and  the  effort  usually  resulted  in  deluging  the  enthu- 
siast who  made  it.  But  they  did  well  enough  to  supply  engines,  by  means  of  lines 
of  men  who  passed  them  full,  from  hand  to  hand,  from  the  nearest  pump  to  the 
engine,  while  an  opposite  line  passed  them  back  empty,  and  about  all  the  service 
they  ever  did  was  in  this  way.  Resort  was  occasionally  had  to  this  primitive  water 
•upply  where  there  was  no  cistern  or  accessible  well,  till  three  or  four  years  before 
the  adoption  of  steam  fire  engines  in  1860.  The  best  service  of  bucket  lines  was 
done  at  the  fire  in  the  Washington  Hall,  in  February,  1843. 

The  Legislature,  on  the  7th  of  February,  1835,  authorized  the  State  Treas- 
urer to  procure  twenty  buckets,  for  fire  purposes,  and  suitable  ladders,  and  to  pay 
half  the  cost  of  a  fire  engine  if  the  citizens  would  pay  the  other  half.  The  citizens 
on  the  12th  met  and  requested  the  Trustees  to  subscribe  the  money,  and  levy  a  tax  to 
pay  it,  an  d  the  Bucket  Company  was  reorganized  as  the  Marion  Fire,  Hose  and  Pro- 
tection Company.  The  engine,  the  Marion,  was  bought  in  the  Summer  and  brought 
here  in  September.  It  was  an  "end-brake,"  made  by  Merrick,  of  Philadelphia,  and 
was  never  surpassed,  or  fairly  equalled,  by  any  of  the  costly  "  machines"  afterwards 
purchased.  It  was  permanently  housed  in  1837,  in  a  two  story  frame  house  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Circle.  The  Council  subsequently  sat  in  the  upper  room.  The  house 
was  carelessly  guarded,  and  often  used  by  prostitutes,  and  in  1851,  after  haying  been 
on  fire  once  or  twice  before,  it  was  burned,  with  the  city  records  in  it.  The  fire 
was  attributed  to  the  members  of  the  Company,  at  the  time,  and  their  resentment 
at  being  required  to  "put  up"  with  so  shabby  an  affair  was  the  supposed  motive. 
It  is  certain  that  many  of  them  refused  to  work  when  ordered  by  their  captain,  and 
other  companies  did  what  was  done,  but  it  may  be  fairly  doubted  whether  they  did 
more  than  entertain  a  decided  dispositon  to  see  it  go.  In  1855  a  brick  house  was 
built  on  the  corner  of  Massachusetts  Avenue  and  New  York  street,  and  in  July,  1858, 
a  splendid  new  "side-brake"  engine  was  purchased,  but  never  did  much  service, 
The  town  of  Peru  bought  it,  in  April,  1860,  for  $2,130.  The  first  officers  and 
members  of  the  Marion  Company  were  the  most  prominent  and  respectable  citizens 


140  BOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

of  the  place.  Caleb  Scudder  was  the  first  Captain.  He  was  succeeded  by  James 
Blake,  John  L.  Mothershead,  and  other  leading  citizens.  But  in  a  few  years  the 
town  grew  larger,  and  the  members  of  the  Company  grew  older  and  more  indis- 
posed to  run  long  and  work  hard,  and  younger  blood  took  their  places.  By  1848i 
they  had  all  become  "  honoraries,"  and  passed  practically  from  the  Company. 
After  serving  ten  years,  a  member  was  entitled  to  claim  his  "honorary  certificate,'' 
which  gave  him  to  all  the  privileges  of  a  fireman,  such  as  exemption  from  city 
taxes,  and  from  service  in  the  militia  and  upon  juries,  without  any  obligation  to  pay 
dues  or  do  duties,  and  in  1845-6  this  limited  time  of  the  founders  of  the  Company 
expired.  A  considerable  change  was  then  made  in  its  composition.  It  became  less 
respectable,  and  a  good  deal  more  efficient.  In  1859  it,  like  all  the  other  compa' 
nies,  became  dissatisfied  with  Chief  Engineer  Davis,  and  the  Council,  strongly 
disposed  anyhow  to  introduce  steam  apparatus  and  paid  firemen,  was  not  at  all 
urgent  to  have  it  kept  up,  and  it  was  disbanded  February,  1860,  after  a  life  of  a 
quarter  of  a  century. 

In  1841,  the  Marion  Company  divided,  and  the  seceders  took  the  "  Good  Intent,'' 
a  second-hand  engine,  of  rather  uncertain  quality,  which  had,  from  the  Spring  of 
1840,  been  kept  and  used  with  the  Marion.  The  new  Company,  afterwards  known 
as  the  Independent  Relief,  like  the  old  one,  was  made  up  of  the  best  citizens,  but 
with  a  rather  larger  infusion  of  "  fast "  men  than  the  old  one.  It  was  changed 
with  the  same  steps  as  the  other.  John  H.  Wright,  the  first  merchant  who  opened 
a  "cash  store"  here,  and  the  first  to  begin  pork  packing  systematically,  was  the 
first  Captain.  In  1849  the  old  engine  was  taken  by  a  new  company  and  replaced 
by  a  sort  of  "row-boat"  apparatus,  then  in  the  flush  of  its  ephemeral  glory,  and 
the  "  boys  "  for  a  long  time  made  vigorous  rivalry  with  the  Mai-ions.  But  they  were 
beaten  usually,  for  their  engine  "  took  water  "  badly,  and  had  nearly  always  to  be 
"primed,"  a  process  that  lost  time  and  gave  their  vigorous  rivals  an  advantage 
never  thrown  away.  In  August,  1858,  they  raised  some  money  by  subscription  to 
buy  another  engine,  and  the  Council  helped  them,  and  this,  an  end-brake,  they  used 
till  they  were  disbanded  in  November,  1859.  They  had  a  severe  controversy  with 
the  city  about  their  apparatus,  but  in  February  gave  up  everything  except  their 
old  "row-boat,"  which  they  broke  up  and  sold  the  following  Spring.  Their  house 
was  a  two  story  brick  on  the  west  side  of  Meridian  street,  in  Hubbard's  block. 
Its  upper  room  was  used  by  the  Fire  Association,  as  well  as  by  the  Company. 

In  November,  1849,  the  Western  Liberties  Company  was  organized,  and  took 
the  old  "  Good  Intent."  They  kept  it  in  a  small  frame  house,  on  the  point  between 
the  National  road  and  Washington  street,  and  used  a  big  triangle  for  a  bell.  In 
1857  the  brick  building  on  the  south  side  of  Washington  street,  west  of  West  street, 
was  erected  for  them,  and  a  new  engine,  the  Indiana,  given  them.  The  Company 
was  disbanded  in  1859,  and  the  engine  sold. 

The  "  Invincibles,"  usually  called  "  Wooden  Shoes  "  by  the  older  companies, 
organized  in  May,  1852,  and  obtained  a  little  iron  box  engine,  called  the  "  Victory," 
with  which,  being  light  and  easily  handled,  and  their  numbers  strong,  they  did 
good  work,  and  made  good  time -to  fires  in  all  parts  of  the  city.  In  March,  1857, 
they  got  a  new  engine,  the  Conqueror,  and  used  it  till  they  were  disbanded  in  Au- 
gust, 1859.  Their  house  was  on  the  east  side  of  New  Jersey  street,  a  half  square 
north  of  Washington.  After  the  inauguration  of  the  Paid  Department,  in  1860,  the 
Invincibles  formed  part  of  it  for  a  few  months.  They  were  then  finally  disbanded, 
and  their  engine  sold  to  Fort  Wayne. 

The  Union  Company  was  organized  in  1855,  and  a  handsome  house  built  for 


COMPANIES— FIRE  ASSOCIATION. 

the  year  following,  on  South  street,  between  Delaware  and  Alabama.  In 
April,  1 856,  a  first  class  engine,  called  the  "  Spirit  of  7  and  6,"  a  name  the  significance 
of  which  is  about  as  hard  to  guess  as  the  interpretation  of  the  "  arrow-head i7 
inscriptions  of  Nineveh,  was  purchased  for  them.  The  Company  was  disbanded 
in  November,  1859.  A  fruitless  effort  was  made  to  reorganize  it  in  the  Paid  Depart, 
ment  next  year,  and  the  engine  was  taken  at  $600  in  part  pay  for  the  steam  engine 
since  stationed  in  their  house. 

A  Company  called  the  "  Rovers  "  was  organized  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
city,  in  March,  1858,  a  house  and  one  of  the  old  engines  given  them,  and  measures 
taken  to  procure  them  a  new  engine,  but  before  it  had  reached  the  stage1  of  efficient 
existence  the  old  volunteer  system  was  tottering,  and  nothing  was  done.  The 
Company  was  disbanded  in  June,  1859,  and  the  house  sold  the  year  after. 

The  "Hook  and  Ladder  Company"  was  organized  in  1843,  and  did  good  service 
till  the  14th  of  November,  1859,  when  they  were  disbanded  with  the  other  compa- 
nies. A  one  story  brick*  house  was  built  for  them  on  the  west  end  of  the  East 
Market  space. 

Besides  these  regular  companies,  there  were  two  companies  of  boys,  the  "OK 
Bucket  Company,"  and  the  "  Young  America  Hook  and  Ladder  Company."  The 
former  was  organized  in  December,  1849,  and  did  good  service  in  providing  buckets 
for  "lines"  to  supply  the  engines,  and  in  keeping  do-wn  or  extinguishing  fires  in 
the  start.  They  used  the  old  buckets  for  a  time,  but  were  Soon  supplied  with  a 
neat  light  wagon  and  new  buckets  by  the  Council.  Their  house  was  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  Meridian  and  Maryland  streets,  where  the  Opera  House  was  after- 
wards built.  They  were  disbanded  in  1854,  but  reorganized  next  year  for  a  little 
while,  and  then,  being  finally  disbanded,  changed  to  a  sort  of  Engine  Company, 
and,  in  1857,  were  given  the  "  Victory,"  the  little  iron  engine  first  used  by  the 
"Jnvincible"  Company.  The  young  "  Hook  and  Ladder "  Company  got  their 
apparatus  in  June,  1858,  but  did  little,  and  were  disbanded  November,  1859. 

There  was  never  any  effective  separation  of  Engine  and  Hose  Companies. 
Each  engine  had  its  own  hose  reel,  and  for  a  long  time  the  members  served  indiffer- 
ently with  either  apparatus.  Hose  Directors  were  especially  assigned,  but  they 
were  under  the  command  of  the  Captain  of  the  Company.  In  the  latter  years  of 
the  system,  a  separation  was  partially  effected,  and  members  were  classed  as 
"engine  "and  "hose"  men,  but  separate  organizations,  houses  and  service  never 
existed.  The  officers  were,  usually,  the  Captain,  Secretary,  Treasurer,  two  Engine 
Directors,  two  Hose  Directors,  a  Messenger,  and  a  "suction  hose"  man,  the  last  a 
position  rather  than  an  office,  assigned  to  the  most  experienced  member,  as  much  of 
the  efficiency  of  an  engine  depended  on  the  accuracy  and  rapidity  of  the  "suction  '' 
man's  work.  The  "  Messenger  "  kept  the  apparatus  in  order,  looked  to  the  repairs 
of  hose  and  the  like,  and  was  paid  about  $50  a  year  by  the  Council — the  only  office 
with  a  salary.  It  was  usually  held  by  a  mechanic  acquainted  with  the  construction 
of  engines. 

Until  about  1852  or  1853,  the  annual  cost  of  the  volunteer  system  was  slight 
and  made  up  of  hose  repairs,  occasional  repainting  of  apparatus,  and  similar  expen- 
ses, but  after  that  time  larger  demands  were  made,  the  independent  character  of 
the  companies  was  changed,  and  they  became  less  associations  of  citizens  for  a 
special  purpose,  and  more  a  sort  of  gratuitous  servants  of  the  Council.  There  was 
no  union  or  co-operation  among  them,  however,  and  the  consequences  were  some- 
times mischievous.  In  1853  it  was  determined  to  subject  them  to  a  common  author- 
ity, and  the  office  of  Chief  Fire  Engineer  was  created.  Joseph  Little  was  first 


HOLLOW  AY*  B  INDIANAPOLIS. 

appointed  to  it,  with  B.  R.  Sulgrove  as  First  Assistant,  and  William  King  as  Second 
Assistant.  Obedience  to  these  officers  was  the  condition  of  appropriations  by  the 
Council,  and  refractory  companies  were  ruled  by  the  fear  of  being  left  to  bear  their 
own  expenses.  To  enable  them  to  exert  their  power  most  effectively,  and  counter- 
check the  despotism  of  the  purse  in  the  hands  of  the  Council,  the  Fire  Association 
was  organized  in  1856,  with  B.  R.  Sulgrove  as  the  first  President.  This  body  was 
composed  of  delegates  from  each  company,  and  held  its  meetings  in  the  hall  of  the 
Relief  Company  on  Meridian  street.  Its  existence  and  functions  were  recognized 
by  the  Council,  and  it  became  the  authoritative  representative  of  a  very  large 
active  and  politically  formidable  body  of  about  four  hundred  voters.  No  appro- 
priations were  made  to  companies  but  upon  its  recommendation,  and  all  company 
action  that  affected  the  general  interests  of  the  Department  was  subjected  to  its 
supervision.  It  was,  in  fact,  the  Legislature,  as  the  Engineer  was  the  Executive,  of 
the  Fire  Department.  For  a  time  its  business  was  well  conducted.  But  its  polit- 
ical power  was  too  obvious  to  allow  it  to  remain  free  from  partisan  solicitations, 
and  the  tenacity  with  which  the  firemen  stuck  to  each  other  made  its  authority  even 
more  formidable  than  it  appeared.  From  the  time  the  companies  began  to  assume 
closer  relations  with  the  Council,  they  began  to  act  together  in  certain  elections 
which  they  deemed  concerned  them  most  directly,  and,  until  the  system  began  to 
fail  in  1858,  they  were  virtually  conceded  the  office  of  city  clerk.  Daniel  B.  Cul- 
ley,  of  the  Marion,  held  the  office  three  successive  years,  from  1851  to  1853.  Ja3. 
N.  Sweetser,  of  the  Marion,  next  took  it,  then  Alfred  Stevens,  of  the  Relief,  for 
two  years — dying  in  the  last  half  of  the  second  year,  and  succeeded  by  Fred.  Stein, 
and  then  it  was  given  to  Geo.  H.  West,  of  the  Marion.  The  Fire  Association  con- 
centrated and  directed  this  feeling  of  fraternity,  and  as  its  power  became  more 
apparent,  its  demands  became  more  exorbitant.  The  Council  felt  that  it  had  taken 
an  ''Old  Man  of  the  Sea"  on  its  back,  and  the  citizens  murmured  at  the  unaccus- 
tomed expense.  Power  and  money  produced  their  inevitable  effects,  and  the  Asso- 
ciation, in  its  second  year,  showed  signs  of  internal  discord  and  unmanageable 
jealousies.  The  Presidency  began  to  be  intrigued  for,  and  measures  canvassed  out- 
side and  "log-rolled"  for,  with  about  as  little  moderation  and  not  much  more  hon- 
esty than  is  seen  in  the  Legislature  or  Congress.  More  than  one  violent  disruption 
was  attempted,  and  reconciliations  were  not  easily  made.  At  last  the  crash  came 
with  the  election  of  Joseph  W.  Davis,  formerly  Captain  of  the  "  Invincibles,"  as 
Chief  Fire  Engineer,  in  1858.  He  had  been  a  prominent,  active  and  peremptory 
member  of  the  Association,  with  decided  opinions,  strong  prejudices,  and  no  partic- 
ular disposition  to  conceal  either.  Of  course  he  was  liked  heartily  by  those  who 
agreed'vrith  him,  and  cordially  disliked  by  everybody  else,  and  the  latter  were  by 
far  the  stronger  party.  Nothing  but  the  union  of  the  firemen  had  preserved  their 
power  so  long,  for  the  city  was  restive  under  their  burthen,  and  now  their  union 
was  broken.  It  was  evident  that  the  volunteer  system  was  approaching  its  end. 
An  attempt  was  made  the  year  following.  1859,  to  restore  harmony  and  efficiency 
by  the  election  of  John  E.  Foudray,  who  had  never  been  a  fireman,  or  had  not  for 
many  years  been  actively  connected  with  any  company,  and  was  therefore  free  from 
the  partialities  imputed  to  Mr.  Davis;  but  a  few  months  showed  that  the  disease 
was  incurable.  The  city  had  grown  so  large,  and  steam  engines  had  been  made  so 
light,  that  the  stage  of  fitness  of  one  to  the  other  was  reached,  and  in  August,  1859, 
the  Council  declared  against  the  volunteer,  and  proposed  to  establish  a  paid,  depart- 
ment, with  steam  apparatus,  which,  as  Miles  G-reenwood,  First  Chief  Engineer  of 
Cincinnati  under  the  paid  system,  used  to  say,  possessed  the  valuable  quality  of 


PAID  STEAM  DEPARTMENT. 

"neither  drinking  whisky  nor  throwing  brick-bats."  On  the  4th  of  September  the 
Committee  on  the  Fire  Department  reported  in  favor  of  the  purchase  of  a  small 
steam  engine,  and  the  sale  of  the  " Belief  "  and  "Good  Intent."  A  Latta  engine 
was  exhibited  here  in  the  latter  part  of  September,  but  it  was  thought  too  heavy 
for  our  unimproved  streets,  and  a  Lee  &  Larned  rotary-pump  engine,  which  was 
exhibited  October  15th  and  22d  at  the  canal,  and  proved  quite  equal  in  the  strength 
of  its  stream  to  the  heavier  Latta,  was  purchased  and  received  on  the  30th  of  March, 
1860.  Its  location  was  a  point  of  hot  dispute  in  the  Council  and  by  the  press,  but 
it  was  at  last,  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  G.  W.  Geisendorff,  Captain  of  the  "  West- 
erns," and  a  member  of  the  Council,  placed  in  the  engine  house  of  the  "Westerns," 
at  the  extreme  west  end  of  the  city,  where  it  still  remains.  The  new  paid  depart- 
ment was  composed  of  the  steam  engine,  with  Frank  Glazier  as  Engineer,  two  hand 
engines  under  Charles  Richmann  and  William  Sherwood,  and  a  hook  and  ladder 
company  under  William  W.  Darnell.  Joseph  W.  Davis  received  the  reward  of  his 
efforts  for  the  new  arrangement  in  the  position  of  Chief  Engineer  with  a  salary  of 
$300.  In  August,  1860,  a  third  class  Latta  was  bought  and  placed  in  the  Marion 
house  on  Massachusetts  avenue;  Charles  Curtiss  was  appointed  Engineer.  In 
October  a  Seneca  Falls  engine  was  bought,  after  a  competitive  trial,  and  stationed 
in  the  Union  house  on  South  street,  with  Daniel  Glazier  as  Engineer.  la  1867  a 
second  Seneca  Fall  engine  was  bought  and  stationed  in  the  western  house,  with 
G.  M.  Bishop  as  Engineer.  The  other  of  the  same  make  was  sent  back  for  repairs. 
The  Latta  has  also  been  repaired,  and  the  Lee  &  Larned.  Engines  and  reels  are 
kept  constantly  ready  for  service,  and  are  both  drawn  by  horses.  The  men  are  paid 
and  usually  do  little  else  than  their  fire  work. 

In  1863  a  central  alarm  bell  was  procured  and  placed  in  an  open  frame  work 
tower  in  the  rear  of  Glenn's  block.  It  is  rung  by  means  of  apparatus  from  a  tower 
on  the  block,  where  a  watchman  is  on  duty  day  and  night.  For  five  years  the 
locality  of  a  fire  was  vaguely  designated  by  striking  the  number  of  the  ward;  but 
in  February,  1868,  a  telegraph  system  was  adopted  and  put  in  operation  in  April,  at 
a  cost  of  $6,000,  which  provides  locked  boxes,  the  keys  kept  at  designated  places, 
which  contain  an  apparatus  that  by  a  simple  motion  enables  anybody  to  send  an 
alarm  to  the  central  station.  The  places  of  these  boxes  and  the  signals  belonging 
to  them,  are  published. 

The  water  supply  was  long  uncertain  and  inadequate.  As  already  stated,  it 
was  usually  furnished  by  "  lines  "  of  spectators,  if  a  well  could  not  be  easily  reached 
by  an  engine.  The  canal  and  the  creek  were  ample,  but  fires  rarely  occurred  in 
those  sparsely  settled  sections  of  the  town.  Several  large  wells  were  dug,  one  on 
the  point  between  Kentucky  avenue  and  Illinois  street,  another  on  Washington  at 
the  junction  of  Virginia  avenue,  and  others  in  other  places  ;  but  these  were  not  to  be 
depended  on,  and  in  1860  two  300-barrel  cisterns  were  made.  But  they  did  little 
service,  and  until  1852  the  city  wad  without  any  regular  or  reliable  water  supply  for 
fires.  In  that  year  a  tax  for  cisterns  was  assessed  and  sixteen  constructed  in  about 
two  years.  There  are  now,  scattered  about  in  the  most  available  places,  78  cisterns 
of  300  to  1,800  barrels  capacity  The  introduction  of  the  Holly  system  of  water 
works,  which  aims  to  provide  streams  for  fires  by  direct  pressure  from  the  pump 
through  the  fire-plug,  may  affect  our  fire  department  ultimately,  but  it  is  not  thought 
now  that  it  will.  Steam  engines  will  hardly  be  dispensed  with,  and  we  must  have 
cisterns  for  them.  An  attempt  was  made  in  1868  to  bore  an  artesian  well,  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  University  Square,  to  fill  the  fire  cisterns,  and  a  good  deal  ol 
money  spent  upon  it,  but  it  has  been  abandoned.  A  steam  pump  to  fill  cisterns  was 
made  in  1864  at  a  cost  of  $1,000.  The  hose  is  all  gutta  percha. 


144 


HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 


PRESENT   CONDITION   OF  DEPARTMENT. 

The  following  statement  of  the  present  condition  of  the  Fire  Department  has 
been  kindly  furniseed  by  the  Chief  Fire  Engineer,  Dan.  Glazier: 

No.  1. — C.  B.  Davis— Cost  $4,800 — out  of  service. 

No.  2. — William  Henderson — Cost  $5>500 — located  on  corner  of  Massachusetts 
avenue  and  Delaware  street.  This  engine  was  rebuilt  last  season  at  a  cost  of 
$2,600.  Engineer,  Cicero  Seibert. 

No.  3. — Cost  $3,500 — located  on  South  street,  between  Delaware  and  Ala- 
bama streets — Engineer,John  K.  Belles. 

No.  4. — Cost  $6,000 — located  on  Washington  street,  between  West  and  Cali- 
fornia streets.  Engineer,  George  M.  Bishop.  Takes  place  of  No.  1 — is  run  by 
the  No.  1  Company. 

No.  5. — John  Marsee — Cost  $6,000.     Not  located — new  engine  in  reserve. 

The  city  has  purchased  grounds  and  will  build  new  houses  this  coming  sum- 
mer, consequently  the  location  of  some  or  all  the  engines  will  be  changed. 

No.  of  Hose  Reels— 5.     Totol  cost  $1,800. 

No.  of  feet  of  Hose— 5,000.     Cost  about  $7,000. 

No.  of  men  engaged  in  Fire  Department — 1  Chief  Fire  Engineer,  3  Engineers, 
1  Superintendent  of  Telegraph,  2  Watchmen  on  the  Tower,  one  Hook  and  Ladder 
man,  3  Firemen,  6  Drivers,  and  12  Hosemen. 

Wages  of  Men. — Chief  Fire  Engineer,  $1,300  per  annum;  Superintendent  of 
Telegraph,  $35  per  month;  Engineers,  $90  per  month;  Firemen,  Drivers  and 
Watchmen,  $2.50  per  day;  Hosemen,  $180  per  annum. 

No.  of  horses — 14.     No.  of  cisterns — 78. 

Total  cost  of  Hose  since  organization  of  paid  Department — $16,000. 

SIGNAL    STATIONS  AND    NUMBERS. 


2  Engine  House,  cor.  Massachusetts  avenue 

and  New  York  street. 

3  'Corner  East  and  New  York  streets. 

4  Hook  and  Ladder  Honse,  New  Jersey,  near 

Washington.  . 

5  Spiegel,  Thorns  &  Co's  Factory,  on  East. 

6  Washington  and  Noble. 

7  Davidson  and  New  York. 
1-2  Noble  and  Michigan. 

1-3  Noble  and  Massachusetts  avenue. 

1-4  East  and  Massachusetts  avenue. 

1-5  New  Jersey  and  Ft.  Wayne  avenue. 

1-6  Delaware  and  Ft.  Wayne  avenue. 

1-7  Pennsylvania  and  Pratt. 

1-8  Blind  Asylum. 

2-1  Tennessee  and  St.  Glair. 

2-3  Michigan,  between  Meridian  and  Illinois. 

2-4  Tennessee,  bet.  Vermont  and  Michigan. 

2-5  Illinois  street  and  Indiana  avenue. 

2-6  New  York  and  Canal— Helwig's  Mill. 

2-7  West  street  and  Indiana  avenue. 

2-8  Frink  &  Moore's  Novelty  Works. 

3-1  282  Indiana  avenue. 

3-2  Blake  and  Michigan. 

3-4  Douglass  and  New  York. 


3-5  Cotton  Factory,  near  river. 

3-6  Geisendorff 's  Woolen  Factory,  near  river. 

3-7  No.    1.  Engine  House,  Washington,  bet. 

West  and  California. 

4-1  West  street  and  Kentucky  avenue. 

4-2  Georgia  and  Mississippi,  Coburn  &  Jones 

Lumber  Yard. 

4-3  Washington  and  Tennessee. 

4-5  Illinois  and  Louisiana,  Spencer  Honse. 

4-6  Illinois  and  Garden — Osgood  &  Smith. 

4-7  Illinois  and  McCarty. 

5-1  Bluff  Boad  and  Ray. 

5-2  Delaware  and  McCarty. 

5-3  East  and  Bicking. 

5-4  Virginia  avenue  and  Bradshaw. 

5-6  Virginia  avenue  and  Noble. 

5-7  Georgia  and  Beaton. 

6-1  16  Fletcher  avenue — Chief  Engineer's  res. 

6-2  No.  3  Engine  House,  South  street,  between 

Delaware  and  Alabama. 

6-3  Gas  Works. 

6-4  Penn'a  and  Georgia — Farley  &  Sinker. 

6-5  Glenn's  block. 

6-7  Delaware  and  Washington. 

7-1  185  New  Jersey  street,  cor.  Virginia  ave. 


POLICE. 

The  Police  force  was  first  established  in  1854.    Its  changes  and  the  general 
features  of  its  history  are  related  in  chapter  X,  and  need  not  be  repeated  here. 


h  ap  tsr    *tf  t. 


AMUSEMENTS. 

LTHOUGH  Indianapolis  holds  a  high  place  in  the  estimation  of  showmen, 
and  is  invariably  marked  for  every  traveling  exhibition,  from  an  operatic  star 
to  a  double-headed  baby,  a  considerable  portion  of  its  respectable  patronage 
has  been  directed  by  a  peculiarity  of  taste,  compounded  partly  of  Puritan  traditions 
and  partly  of  backwoods  culture,  which,  even  to  this  day,  makes  certain  classes   of 
entertainments   "unclean."     Menageries  are  illustrations  of  natural   history,  and 
the  schools  are  dismissed  to  see  them.     Circuses  are  "devil's  devices,"  and  church 
members  are,  or  were,  "called  over  the  coals"   for  visiting  them.     Concerts  are 
bearable,  and  even  the  opera  is  not  altogether  abominable,  but  a  theatrical  per- 
formance is  beyond  moral  toleration.     This  feeling  used  to  be  much  stronger  and 
more  generally  diffused  than  it  is  now,  when  the  growth  of  population  and  ungodli- 
ness has  provided  ample  patronage  for  everything,  and  moral  antipathies,  finding 
themselves  practically  powerless,  have  thinned  greatly  from  inanition,  and  weak- 
ened from  want  of  exercise.     But  in  their  greatest  strength  they  could  not  subdue 
the  open  rebellion  of  many,  and  the  secret  disobedience  of  others,  to  the  purity 
that  closed  the  circus  canvass  on  them,  or  shut  them  out  of  Ollaman's  wagon-shop, 
or  the  old  "hay  press"  foundry.     It  would  be  hard  to  determine  whether  the  reli- 
gious opposition  of  the  "fathers"  of  the  Capital  injured  the  tabooed  performances 
more  than  the  additional  allurement  of  doing  a  forbidden  thing  benefited   them. 
At  all  events,  though  deprived  of  the  advantage  of  the  "family  attendance"  of 
old  settlers,  circuses,  negro  minstrels  and  ballet  pieces  have  been  quite  as  well  pat- 
ronized as  "animal  shows,"  lectures  and  concerts.     "Shows,"  the  generic  Hoosier 
name  for  all  sorts  of  exhibitions  under  canvass,  may  be  considered  the  favorite 
weakness  of  the  Capital.     A  circus  of  fair  average  pretensions  will  fill  its  seats  in 
spite  of  weather,  mud  or  money,  and  a  half  dozen  in  close  succession  will  keep 
doing  it,  as  if  people  went  to  see  how  much  better  or  worse  one  was  than  another. 
Other  exhibitions  are  little  less  attractive.     Negro  minstrels  will  suck  all  the  pat- 
ronage from  an  opposition  lecture  or  charity  fair.     The  theatre,  alone,  of  the  old- 
time  "immoral"  class  of  exhibitions  has  had  a  fluctuating  patronage  and  an  acci- 
dental prosperity.     During  the  war,  and  since,  under  the  impulse  of  some  famous 
actor,  it  has  done  very  well,  but  averaging  all  the  seasons  before  1861,  with  all 
those  since   1865,  it  will  be  found  that  the  profits  might  be  turned  in  upon  the 
National  debt  without  sensibly  diminishing  the  necessity  of  a  tariff.     Those  familiar 
with  the  business  might  explain  this  exceptional  sterility;  it  is  enough  for  this 
sketch  to  state  the  fact.    As  concerts,  lectures  and  "shows"  have  no  especial  con- 
nection with  the  city  or  its  history,  it  would  be  an  impertinent  enlargement  to  say 
more  «f  them  here.     The  theater,  however,  having  "  a  local  habitation  and  a  name," 
bringing  population  here,  diffusing  its  earnings  here,  and  ornamenting  our  streets 
with  imposing  edifices,  is  a  part  of  the  city,  and  cannot  be  properly  omitted. 
(10) 


HOLLOWAT'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

As  has  been  stated  in  the  general  history  of  the  city,  the  first  theatrical  per- 
formance was  given  here  on  the  night  of  the  last  day  of  the  year  1823,  in  the  dining 
room  of  Major  Carter's  tavern,  opposite  the  Court  hou8e,  by  a  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith, 
imposingly  announced  as  "  late  of  the  New  York  theatre.''  Two  pieces  were  played, 
"The  Doctor's  Courtship,  or  the  Indulgent  Father,"  and  the  "Jealous  Lovers." 
The  price  of  admission  was  "three  levies"— the  popular  abbreviation  in  early 
times  of  three  "elevenpence,"  in  later  years  changed,  by  more  frequent  intercourse 
with  the  South,  to  the  Mississippi  "  patois"  of  three  "  bits,"— and  the  orchestra  was 
composed  of  Bill  Bagwell  and  his  fiddle.  Mr.  Carter  was  largely  imbued  with  the 
prejudices  against  the  stage,  to  which  allusion  is  made  above  (and  which  recently 
sent  a  dead  actor  of  excellent  character  "round  the  corner"  for  Christian  burial,  in 
New  York),  and  he  objected  to  the  use  of  so  profane  an  instrument  as  a  fiddle  in 
his  house,  as  an  auxiliary  to  a  performance  which  his  conscience  could  illy  tolerate 
in  its  least  offensive  form.  He  was  finally  pacified  by  the  assurance  that  the  obnox- 
ious instrument  was  a  "  violin."  and  by  the  performance  thereon  of  the  air  of  a  favor- 
ite hymn.  Several  exhibitions  were  given,  with  sufficient  success  to  attract  the 
adventurous  Mr.  Smith  here  again  in  June,  1824.  But  he  failed  then,  and  ran  away 
without  paying  his  bills,  a  trick  that  wandering  showmen  have  practised  frequently 
since. 

The  next  attempt  at  theatrical  entertainment  was  of  a  higher  order  altogether. 
A  full  company  was  engaged  and  a  building  fitted  up  expressly  for  it.  A  Mr. 
Lindsay  was  manager.  Mr.  Ollaman's  wagon-shop,  on  Washington  street,  oppo- 
site the  Court  house,  was  the  theatre,  and  two  or  three  musicians  composed  an 
attractive  orchestra  for  that  day.  Among  other  pieces,  Kotzebue's  "Stranger"' 
was  produced  several  times,  and  "Pizarro,"  the  "Loan  of  a  Lover,"  "Swiss  Cot- 
tage," and  a  number  of  the  old  dramas  and  farces  which  even  yet  hold  possession 
of  the  stage  against  half  naked  women  and  bloody  melo-dramas.  Songs  were  given 
in  the  "  wait"  between  the  first  and  second  pieces,  and  some  of  them  became  quite  as 
popular  as  S.  C.  Foster's  plaintive  negro  melodies  of  a  later  day.  The  "  Tonga 
Islands,"  with  its  interminable  and  inextricable  tangle  of  gibberish  for  a  chorus, 
"  Jinny  git  your  hoe  cake  done,"  and  some  of  the  songs  made  famous  by  Jim  Crow 
Eice,  may  even  yet  be  recalled  by  old  residents  with  good  musical  memories.  This 
•was  about  the  year  1837  or  1838. 

During  the  winter  of  1840-41  Mr.  Lindsay  returned  with  a  really  superior 
company,  and  fitted  up  the  one-story  brick  building,  formerly  occupied  as  the  office 
of  the  Indiana  Democrat,  where  Temperance  Hall  is  now.  Mrs.  Drake,  and  A.  A> 
Adams,  whose  irregularities  had  prevented  him  from  getting  an  Eastern  engage- 
ment and  forced  him  here  to  support  himself,  were  the  chief  attractions.  Neither 
of  them  ever  played  better,  and  the  little  house,  which  would  not  seat  more  than 
three  hundred,  was  nearly  always  full.  This  was  Mr.  Lindsay's  last  appearance 
here. 

It  was  here  that  a  ludicrous  scene  occurred  "not  set  down  in  the  bills."  Cap- 
tain George  W.  Cutter,  a  leading  Whig  orator,  from  Terre  Haute,  and  a  poet  who 
subsequently  attained  a  national  reputation,  fell  in  love  with  Mrs  Drake,  who  was 
several  years  his  senior.  She  returned  his  passion  with  theatrical,  if  not  sincere, 
demonstrations,  and  the  billing  and  cooing  of  the  oddly  mis-mated  lovers  was  the 
standing  joke  of  the  city  during  the  session  of  the  Legislature.  One  night,  in 
some  performance,  Mrs.  Drake,  who  was  affectionately  watched  from  the  wings  by 
her  Wabash  adorer,  in  making  a  "stage"  fall,  made  a  real  one,  and  hurt  herself, 
or  Cutter  thought  she  did,  and  he  rushed  upon  the  stage,  to  the  horrible  disorder  of 


A  M  USElfENTS. 

the  scene,  and  the  infinite  fun  of  the  audience,  and  tenderly  lifting  up  his  rather 
ponderous  inamorata,  audibly  condoled  with  her,  and  led  her  off  with  all  the  touch- 
ing sweetness  of  the  honey  moon.  The  crowd  roared,  cheered  the  gallant  Captain 
"  to  the  echo,"  and  made  fun  of  him  for  the  next  six  weeks.  He  and  Mrs,  Drake 
were  married  that  winter  at  Mr.  Browning's  hotel.  This  love  passage  was  the 
"  sensation  "  of  that  season. 

In  1843  "The  New  York  Company  of  Comedians"  opened  a  theatre  in  the 
upper  room  of  Gaston's  carriage-shop,  where  the  Bates  House  now  stands,  and  gave 
series  of  concerts  closing  with  stage  performances,  during  the  better  part  of  the 
winter.  Mrs.  Drake  and  Mr.  Adams,  Mr.  Brown's  history  says,  appeared  here, 
but  the  writer  has  an  impression,  not  definite  enough  to  place  against  anybody's 
actual  recollection,  that  they  played  together  but  one  season,  and  that  was  during 
Mr.  Lindsay's  occupation  of  the  Democrat  office. 

Another  theatrical  demonstration  was  a  home-made  affair,  and  by  no  means 
the  worst  given  us.  During  the  winter  of  1839-40  an  old  foundry  building  called 
the  "  hay  press,"  from  an  "  institution "  of  that  kind  established  in  its  rear  to 
bale  hay  for  transportation  to  New  Orleans  in  flatboats,  was  fitted  up  with  a  stage 
and  scenery,  and  used  by  the  "Indianapolis  Thespian  Corps"  to  present  Robert 
Dale  Owen's  play  of  "  Pocahontas."  The  leading  actors  were  James  G.  Jordan, 
as  "Captain  John  Smith;"  James  McCready,  as  "Powhattan;"  William  Wallace, 
as  ''  Pocahontas ; "  John  T.  Morrison,  Davis  Miller  and  James  McVey  in  other 
characters.  Though  but  an  indifferent  acting  piece,  and  utterly  forgotten  as  any. 
thing  else  now,  its  novelty  made  it  entertaining  enough  to  "run"  for  sometime  at 
irregular  intervals.  Two  or  three  years  later  the  "Corps"  was  revived,  and 
strengthened  with  the  addition  of  Mr.  Edward  S.  Tyler,  and  produced  several 
standard  plays  with  decided  merit  and  success.  The  "  Theatre "  was  opened, 
usually,  once  a  week,  but  sometimes  twice,  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  that  and  the 
succeeding  year.  (It  is  but  just  to  say  that  there  is  a  good  deal  of  discrepancy  as 
to  the  dates  in  the  history  of  the  "  Corps."  The  writer  has  fixed  those  given  by 
the  memories  of  the  gentlemen  belonging  to  the  Corps,  who  concur  unanimously 
in  placing  their  performances  at  least  as  early  as  1844,  and  the  first  presentation 
of  "  Pocahontas  "  is  fixed  positively,  by  one  of  the  leading  actors,  in  the  winter  of 
1839-40.)  The  best  paying  performance,  and  the  best  dramatically  regarded, 
was  the  "Golden  Farmer,"  with  Mr.  Jordan  as  the  "Farmer,"  Mr.  Mc- 
Cready as  "Old  Mob,"  and  Mr.  Tyler  as  "Jimmy  Twitcher.1'  The  last  was 
a  "hit."  In  the  first  scene,  where  "Jimmy"  overhauls  his  booty  and  "takes 
an  account  of  stock,"  and  in  that  in  which  he  falls  off  a,  fence  and  hangs  by 
the  seat  of  his  breeches  to  one  of  the  spikes,  the  audience  never  failed  to  "  come 
down"  with  furious  applause.  The  "Brigands,"  with  Jordan  in  the  song  of 
"Love's  Ritornella,"  was  also  popular.  Towards  the  close  of  the  season  of  1842  or 
1843,  probably  the  latter,  Mr.  Nat.  Cook,  eldest  son  of  the  then  State  Librarian, 
who  had  been  playing  subordinate  parts  in  a  Cincinnati  theatre,  came  out  here, 
and  a  big  demonstration  was  made.  The  town  was  full  of  rumors  of  his  talents, 
his  wonderful  wardrobe,  his  fame  abroad,  and  of  all  other  inducements  to  make 
him  the  "lion"  of  the  theatre-going  society — not  the  highest  in  the  city  at  that 
time — and  to  bring  a  big  crowd  to  hear  him.  Home's  tragedy  of  "Douglass  "  was 
announced,  with  Mr.  Cook  as  "Young  Norval,"  Mr.  Jordan  as  "  Glenalvon,"  and 
Mr.  Davis  Miller  as ''Lady  Randolph,"  to  be  followed  by  the  "Two  Gregories," 
with  Mr.  Cook  as  one  of  the  "  Gregories,"  Mr.  Jordan  as  the  Frenchman,  and  Mr. 
John  Cook,  Jr.,  as  the  sweetheart  of  "  Gregory."  There  was  a  full  house,  and  rap- 


148 


HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 


turous  applause  when  "Young  Norval"  came  on  for  the  first  time,  resplendent  in 
scale  armor  of  tin  chips,  and  impressive  in  all  the  rant  and  strut  and  grunt  of 
traditional  stage  propriety.  But  he  didn't  hold  up.  Mr.  Jordan  made  a  decidedly 
better  character  of  the  villain.  This  was  the  dying  blaze  of  the  Thespians.  They 
expired  in  October,  after  Mr.  John  T.  Morrison,  as  per  programme,  attempted 
to  declaim  Dimond's  "Sailor  Boy's  Dream,"  and  forgot  the  third  stanza  and  all 
behind  it.  He  could  have  done  admirably  if  his  memory  hadn't  tricked  him,  but 
"stage  fright"  was  too  much  for  him,  as  it  has  been  for  many  a  man  who  has 
become  famous  on  the  stage  since. 

(There  is  a  long  blank  in  theatrical  history,  between  the  Thespians  and  the 
next  stage  exhibition,  of  too  little  consequence  to  deserve  notice.) 

Early  in  1853,  January  21st,  Mr.  F.  W.  Robinson,  calling  himself  "  Yankee 
Robinson,"  located  in  Washington  Hall  for  the  winter,  with  the  company  he  had 
been  exhibiting  as  a  "side  show"  at  the  State  Fair  the  fall  before.  To  evade  the 
license  for  theatrical -performances,  he  announced  concerts  by  the  Alphonso  troupe, 
and  a  vocal  annoyance  was  followed  by  a  very  fair  play,  sometimes  two.  The  lead- 
ing actor  was  Henry  W.  Waugh,  afterwards  clown  in  Robinson's  circus  under  the 
name  of  "  Dilly  Fay,"  and  more  widely,  as  well  as.  more  honorably,  known  as  a 
young  artist  of  very  great  promise.  He  painted  all  the  scenery,  and  it  was  well 
done.  During  the  following  year  he  assisted  Mr.  Jacob  Cox  in  painting  a  "Tem- 
perance Panorama1'  in  the  Governor's  Circle,  which,  never  adequately  managed, 
failed  as  a  traveling  exhibition,  though  it  did  well  in  the  city  at  Masonic  Hall.  He 
went  to  Italy  ten  or  twelve  years  ago,  and  died  of  consumption  on  his  way  home. 
in  England.  Mr.  and  Mrs!  Sidney  Wilkins  did  the  "heavy  business,"  and  Mr. 
James  F.  Lytton  the  Irish  characters.  He  sang  well  and  with  good  comic  effect, 
and  he  made  Irish  songs  very  popular.  "  The  Low  Backed  Car,"  "  Billy  0'  Rourke," 
"The  Flaming  O'Flannigans,"  "Finnegan's  Wake/'  and  several  other  songs  owe 
their  Indianapolis  popularity  to  him.  Robinson  closed  his  season  the  7th  of  March. 
Mr.  H.  W.  Brown  then  took  the  Hall,  and,  with  Mr.  Wilkins  and  wife,  Mrs. 
Mehen,  and  some  others,  first  produced  "Uncle  Tom's  Cabin1'  and  with  success. 
He  ran  only  four  weeks,  closing  July  26th,  1853.  Mr.  Wilkins  then  took  the 
place  and  company,  and  made  a  brief  season  of  a  few  weeks. 

During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1854,  Mr.  C.  A.  Elliott,  having  built  and  enclosed 
his  large  liquor  house,  on  the  corner  of  Meridian  and  Maryland  streets,  Mr.  Robinson 
remted  the  third  story,  and  had  it  turned  into  a  moderately  capacious  and  comfort- 
able theatre,  still  better  than  Washington  Hall,  called  "The  Atheneum."  His 
company  consisted  of  R.  J.  Miller,  who,  subsequently  taking  the  line  of  "Yankee" 
characters — the  most  abominable  caricatures  that  ever  disfigured  any  stage  in  the 
world,  whoever  the  actor  might  be — called  himself  "  Yankee  Miller,"  his  wife,  Mr. 
Bierce,  another  stage  "Yankee"  called  "Yankee"  Bierce,  and  "Yankee"  Robin- 
son himself  and  his  wife,  F.  A.  Tannehill,  George  McWilliams,  his  sister,  Mary 
McWilliams,  J.  F.  Lytton  and  H.  W.  Waugh.  This  was  a  profitable  enterprise. 
The  theatre  was  always  well  filled,  and  the  plays  given  with  no  inconsiderable 
share  of  force  and  scenic  effect.  It  was  here  that  Indianapolis  was  introduced  to 
the  first  "star"'  ever  seen  on  White  River.  Miss  Susan  Benin,  of  moderate  his- 
trionic talent,  very  considerable  personal  beauty,  and  a  reputation  that  did  not 
repel  admirers  of  other  attractions  than  her  acting,  appeared  in  "  Fazio,"  and  in  the 
farce  of  "  Good  for  Nothing,"  the  latter  the  better  performance  of  the  two,  and 
made  a  sensation  which  has  hardly  been  equalled  in  intensity  even  by  Kellogg  and 
Nilason,  though  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  sensation  did  not  pervade  precisely 


AMUSEMENTS. 

the  same  classes,  or  run  upon  the  same  level  of  respectability.  She  appeared  in 
the  same  place  in  the  year  following,  with  her  sister  Kate,  and  played  "  Romeo"  to 
Kate's  "  Juliet."  This  exhibition  in  tights  was  especially  attractive  to  the  sappy 
juniors  of  the  masculine  persuasion,  and  though  her  acting  was  not  improved,  her 
success  was  decided.  In  the  spi'ing  of  1855,  Maggie  Mitchell,  who  had  made  her 
first  appearance  in  Chicago  but  a  few  days  before,  appeared  here,  and  gave  no  very 
striking  indications  of  ability  to  achieve  a  marked  success.  The  papers  treated  her 
kindly,  however,  and  she  left  with  some  money  and  some  encouragement.  J.  P. 
Addams  also  played  during  this  season. 

On  the  closing  of  Robinson's  season,  April  14th,  1855,  Austin  H.  Brown  and 
Jphn  M.  Oommons  took  the  Atheneum,  and  engaged  several  of  the  best  actors  in 
the  country.  Mr.  C.  J.  Fyffe  was  manager.  The  "support''  was  wretched  and 
patronage  fell  off,  though  Harry  Chapman  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  A.  Drake — reappear- 
ing for  the  first  time  since  1842 — William  Powers,  a  disastrous  failure,  and  James 
E.  Murdoch,  then  confessedly  at  the  head  of  the  profession  in  the  United  States  in 
genteel  comedy,  drama,  and  skill  as  a  reader,  were  among  the  attractions.  Mr. 
Murdoch  played  to  less  than  twenty  persons,  the  unbearable  heat  of  a  close  room, 
so  near  the  roof,  in  midsummer,  repelling  hundreds  who  would  have  gladly 
heard  him  anywhere  where  they  could  sweat  without  being  scalded.  He  threw  up 
his  engagement  for  the  benefit  of  the  managers  after  the  second  performance,  which 
vas  the  "Stranger,"  and  left  in  a  big  disgust,  which  he  has  never  so  far  conquered 
as  to  come  back,  except  to  lecture  or  give  a  reading.  On  the  15th  of  September, 
1855,  Mr.  Commons  reopened  the  theatre,  and  ran  it  till  the  8th  of  December,  with 
Miss  Eliza  Logan,  Joseph  Proctor  and  wife,  Susan  and  Kate  Denin,  Peter  and  Car- 
oline Richings,  and  W.  J.  Florence  and  wife,.  Thomas  Duff  was  stage  manager. 
In  March,  1856,  W.  L.  Woods  opened  it  again  for  a  month,  Mr.  W.  Davidge,  low 
comedian,  being  the  star.  Vance  and  Lytton  ran  it  from  May  16th  to  June  3d,  with 
Eliza  Logan,  Miss  Coleman  Pope  and  Miss  Richings  as  attractions.  Maddocks 
and  Wilson  opened  spasmodically  during  the  summer,  as  a  chance  crowd  made  ah 
appearance  of  pay  possible.  During  the  State  Fair  Wilson  and  Pratt  used  it,  and 
Yankee  Bierce  and  the  Maddern  sisters,  in  the  early  part  of  December.  From  the 
16th  of  December  till  the  9th  of  March  it  was  run  by  J.  F.  Lytton  &  Co.,  with 
Yankee  Miller,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lacey,  Tannyhill,  Lytton  and  others  as  company, 
and  Susan  Denin,  Dora  Shaw,  John  Drew,  Charlotte  Crampton,  Mrs.  Drake  and 
Miss  Duval  as  stars.  In  March,  1857,  Cal  J.  Smith  attempted  to  do  something 
with  the  now  dilapidated  affair,  but  he  couldn't  do  much  at  best,  and  he  did  noth- 
ing with  this  but  ruin  it  outright.  It  should  be  stated  that  Miss  Eloise  Bridges, 
appeared  in  the  early  fall  of  1865.  In  August  1858,"  a  German  company  played 
at  the  Atheneum  for  a  little  while,  and  in  January  of  that  year  and  February  of 
1859  the  Germans  ran  two  theatres,  one  at  Washiugtoa  Hall  and  one  at  Union 
Hall.  Kate  Denia  and  her  husband,  Sam.  Ryan,  opened  Washington  Hall  in 
April,  1858  for  a  few  days,  to  no  advantage  to  anybody;  and  Harry  Chapman,  with 
his  wife  and  his  wife's  mother,  Mrs.  A.  Drake,  and  the  admirable  comedian  John 
K.  Mortimer,  opened  the  Atheneum  during  the  State  Fair.  This  completes  the 
sketch  of  makeshift  theatres,  halls  temporarily  fitted  up,  companies  temporarily 
collected,  aud  of  seasons  sporadically  scattered  through  the  year.  From  this  time 
there  is  to  be  noticed  only  a  regular  theatre,  built  on  purpose,  and  worthy  of  the 
population  and  prosperity  of  the  city. 

Up  to  this  time  the  Theatre,  though. a  denizen,  was  not  a  citizen,  of  the  Capi- 
tal.    It  was  a  tenant,  not  a  proprietor,  and  moved  about  with  little  improvement 


250  aoLLOWAY's  INDIANAPOLIS. 

of  accommodations.  But  in  1857  Mr.  Valentine  Butscli  built  the  Metropolitan 
Theatre,  corner  of  Tennessee  and  Washington  streets,  opposite  the  Masonic  Hall, 
expressly  for  stage  performances,  and  gave  this  class  of  amusements  permanence 
and  character.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  in  August,  1857,  and  in  a  little  more 
than  a  year  the  house  was  finished.  It  is  one  of  the  handsomest  in  the  city,  three 
stories  high,  eighty-two  by  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet,  stuccoed  to  resemble 
stone,  with  niches  in  the  second  story  front  for  symbolical  statues,  and  a  balcony 
which  furnishes  a  place  for  the  band  to  play  alluring  airs,  before  the  rising  of  the 
curtain.  The  ground  floor  is  divided  into  large  business  rooms,  with  two  stairways 
to  the  theatre  entrance.  The  auditorium  will  seat  about  twelve  hundred  persons, 
and  could  seat  more  if  the  gallery  were  not  so  indifferently  arranged  that  the  stage 
is  visible  only  from  the  lower  seats  of  the  centre  and  from  the  two  ends  The  dress 
circle  under  the  gallery  is  separated  from  the  "  pit "  or  parquette  by  a  descent  of  a 
foot  or  so,  bounded  by  an  iron  balustrade,  through  which  there  are  two  openings 
from  the  dress  circle,  the  only  means  of  entrance.  The  vaulted  ceiling  is  neatly 
decorated  with  fresco  work.  The  stage,  though  not  large,  is  quite  adequate  to  any 
ordinary  exhibition.  The  scenery  was  painted  by  S.  W.  Gulick,  who  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Thomas  B.  Glossing,  an  artist  of  marked  talent,  who  has  provided  both 
the  Metropolitan  and  the  Academy  with  as  good  scenery  as  can  be  found  in  any 
theatre  in  the  West.  It  cost,  with  the  lot,  about  $60,000. 

The  Metropolitan  was  opened  under  the  management  of  E.  T.  Sherlock  on  the 
27th  of  September,  1858,  with  an  exhibition  of  the  "Tableaux  Vivants"  of  the 
Keller  Troupe,  if  the  writer  remembers  correctly.  A  number  of  "stars''  of 
greater  or  less  magnitude  appeared  during  the  season,  which  closad  on  the  last  day 
Of  February,  1859.  Among  them  were  Sallie  St.  Glair,  the  leader  of  the  "naked 
school,"  in  such  displays  as  the  "French  Spy,"  Hackett,  the  great — in  all  senses — 
"Falstaff,"  the  Florences,  J.  B.  Koberts,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Wallack,  Mrs.  Sinclair  (For- 
rest). Adah  Isaacs  Menken,  another  of  the  "stripping"  class,  Eliza  Logan,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Waller,  Matilda  Heron,  then  in  the  flush  of  her  recently  acquired  renown 
as  the  great  "realistic''  actress,  and  the  Cooper  English  Opera  Troupe  and  other 
stars.  The  season  was  pecuniarily  a  failure.  Large  expenses  were  incurred  without 
the  presentation  of  striking  inducements  to  patronage,  except  in  a  few  cases,  and  the 
houses  did  not  "pay."  There  was,  moreover,  no  little  remnant  of  that  antipathy  to 
the  theatre  alluded  to  in  the  opening  of  this  chapter,  to  encounter,  and  it  was  the 
more  damaging  as  being  directed  by  the  oldest,  wealthiest  and  most  respected  citizens. 
The  manager  sought  to  conciliate  it  once  by  offering  a  benefit  to  the  Widows  and  Or- 
phans' Society,  then  sadly  in  need  of  help,  but  after  much  discussion  the  offer  was 
declined  under  the  advice  of'the  leading  male  directors,  and  a  probable  donation  of 
five  hundred  dollars  thrown  away.  The  ground  of  refusal  was  distinctly  stated  to 
be  the  Society's  doubt  of  the  moral  tendency  of  stage  exhibitions.  •  The  city  press, 
with  scarcely  an  exception,  exposed  the  insufficiency  of  the  reason,  and  the  impro- 
priety of  looking  too  nearly  into  the  means  by  which  money  properly  offered  was 
gained.  The  same  scrutiny  might  repel  donations  from  speculators  in  family  distress 
and  the  poverty  of  the  very  class  for  whose  relief  the  Society  was  organized.  A  char- 
itable association  does  all  its  duty  when  it  honorably  obtains  means  which  it  benifi- 
cently  applies.  The  discussion  was  warm  for  a  while,  the  "  moralists,"  as  they 
were  called,  standing  resolutely  by  their  creed  that  money  for  pure  purposes  must 
come  from  pure  sources,  though  the  starvation  of  the  suffering  were  the  conse- 
quence of  refusing  that  of  doubtful  acquisition.  The  city  has  outgrown  this  opin- 
ion now,  if  one  may  judge  from  the  fact  that  a  theatrical  exhibition,  by  amateurs, 


AMUSEMENTS. 

was  made  on  two  successive  nights  in  the  Opera  Hall  for  the  benefit  of  this  same 
Society,  and  an  amateur  opera  was  given  in  the  Academy  of  Music  two  or  three 
times  for  a  similar  benevolent  object.  The  moral  difference  between  an  amateur 
and  a  professional  exhibition  is  not  a  wide  one,  and  in  these  instances  the  artistic 
difference  was  not  much  wider.  The  performances  were  quite  as  good  as  the  aver- 
age of  stage  exhibitions,  and  the  only  feature  that  the  societies  seemed  to  lament 
was  that  they  did  not  pay  better. 

The  failure  of  Mr.  Sherlock  did  not  deter  Mr.  George  Wo)d  from  re-opening 
the  theatre  in  April,  1859,  for  a  few  nights,  nor  John  A.  Ellsler  from  attempting  a 
two  months  season  immediately  after.  He  was  the  first  to  produce  ballet  pieces 
with  some  approach  to  the  scenic  splendor,  the  tinsel,  flowers,  naked  girls,  and  gor- 
geous tableaux  of  Eastern  theatres.  He  opened  it  again  during  the  fall  and  winter, 
but  with  little  success.  On  the  25th  of  April,  1861,  its  management  was  underta- 
ken by  Mr.  Butsch  himself,  with  Felix  A.  Vincent  as  stage  manager,  and  the 
orowd  brought  here  by  the  demands  of  the  war  made  it  pay.  From  this  time  to 
the  close  of  the  war  the  Metropolitan  was  the  most  profitable  investment  in  the  city. 
It  was  crowded  all  the  time,  whatever  might  be  the  attraction,  though  the  "  stock  " 
was  nearly  always  good  enough  to  merit  good  patronage,  including,  as  it  did,  Mr. 
Vincent,  in  some  respects  one  of  the  best  comedians  ever  seen  here;  Miss  Marion 
McCarthy — who  subsequently  became  insane  and  died  here — a  good  actress  in 
•nearly  all  classes  of  characters  from  farce  to  high  tragedy,  and  a  pleasing  singer 
as  well;  Mr.  F.  G.  White,  a  broad  low  comedian  of  unfailing  popularity  with  "the 
boys;  "  Mr.  Ferd.  Hight,  an  excellent  "old  man"  and  fair  comedian,  Miss  Phillips, 
the  best  "old  lady'  we  have  had,  and  several  others.  Vincent  continued  as  man- 
ager under  Mr.  Butsch  till  1863.  He  was  succeeded  by  Wm.  H.  Riley,  who 
played  leading  parts  as  well  as  manager,  and  made  himself  deservedly  popular 
not  more  by  his  judicious  enterprise  in  one  capacity  than  his  correct  and  effect- 
ive performances  in  the  other.  His  wife  also  appeared  frequently  and  success- 
fully in  such  parts  as  "Desdemona,"  "Juliet,"  "Mrs.  Haller,"  and  the  lighter 
characters  of  tragedy  and  serious  drama.  Mr.  Riley  remained  in  charge  of 
the  Metropolitan  till  1867,  when  he  removed  to  New  Orleans,  to  take  the 
management  of  the  St.  Charles  Theatre,  of  that  city.  He  died  there  within 
a  month  after  his  .arrival,  regretted  alike  for  his  professional  excellence  and 
social  character.  The  season  of  1867-8  was  managed  by  Mat.  V.  Lingham, 
and  that  of  1868  by  Charles  R.  Pope.  The  latter,  besides  his  own  acting,  which 
has  rarely  been  equalled  by  any  "star,"  gave  us  a  succession  of  the  best  per- 
formances we  have  ever  had,  including  a  week  of  John  E.  Owens,  and  another 
by  Edwin  Forrest,  in  which  he  appeared  as  "Virginius,"  "Spartacus,"  "Rich- 
elieu," and  "Othello."  Madame  Ristori,  appeared  one  night,  the  25th  of  March, 
1867,  under  Grau's  management.  Mr.  Pope  has  since  taken  the  St.  Charles 
Theatre  in  New  Orleans.  In  1868  Mr.  Butsch  closed  the  Metropolitan  and  trans- 
ferred his  personal  management  to  the  Academy  of  Music.  Since  then  the 
Metropolitan  has  been  opened  as  a  sort  of  "Varieties"  and  "Minstrel"  hall, 
though  it  has  always  inclined  more  or  less  to  the  drama.  Mr.  Sargeant  had  it  in 
1870,  and  Mr.  Fred.  Thompson  in  the  spring  of  1871. 

In  1868  Mr.  Butsch,  perceiving  the  inadequacy  of  the  Metropolitan  to  the  rapidly 
growing  population  of  the  city,  and  resolved  to  "keep  even"  and  retain  his  long 
mastery  of   amusement  resources,  bought  the  incomplete  structure  called   "  Mil- 
ler's block,"  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Illinois  and  Ohio  streets,  paying  $50,000 
therefor,  and  completel  it  into  one  of  the  largest  and  handsomest  edifices  in  the 


HOLLOWA.Y'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

West,  making  a  theatre  of  the  second  and  third  stories,  and  business  rooms  of  tie 
first,  with  an  entrance  on  both  streets.  This  he  called  the  Academy  of  Music. 
The  auditorium  will  seat  about  2,500,  and  in  completeness  of  arrangement,  ele- 
gance of  finish,  comfort  of  accommodations,  and  general  pleasantness  of  effect,  it 
will  compare  with  any  of  the  smaller  theatres  of  the  United  States.  The  drese 
circle  is  separated  from  the  parquette  by  a  line  of  boxes,  and  there  are  two  well 
arranged  galleries,  the  lower  a  better  place  than  the  parquette  to  hear  music.  The 
upper  is  usually  reserved  for  "citizens  of  African  descent."  The  Academy  was 
opened  in  the  fall  of  1868  under  the  management  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Leake,  with  a  fair 
stock  company,  containing  Mr.  White,  Mr.  Hodges,  and  one  or  two  others  familiar  to 
the  theatrical  public  in  past  times;  his  wife,  Miss  Annie  Waite,  being  the  leading 
lady,  and  one,  in  all  respects  of  careful  study,  conscientious  effort,  pleasing  appear- 
ance, and  versatility,  unsurpassed  in  the  city.  Mr.  Leake  has  had  Mr.  Owens,  Sf-. 
Forrest,  the  Richings  Opera  Troupe,  the  German  Opera  Troupe,  the  Blondes,  "  Riyt 
Van  Winkle"  Jefferson,  Mr.  Leffingwell,  Mrs.  Lander,  Fanny  Janauschek,  and 
other  distinguished  performers  in  the  Academy  during  his  administration.  In  the 
fall  of  1870  he  and  Mr.  James  Dickson  leased  it,  with  the  Metropolitan,  of  the 
proprietors,  Butsch  &  Dickson,  and  have  since  been  running  it,  with  the  Terre 
Haute  Opera  House — the  Metropolitan  being  leased,  as  before  stated,  for  a  Varie- 
ties establishment — with  what  success  in  money  remains  to  be  seen. 

Besides  these  regular  theatres  there  have  been  several  places  of  amusement  of 
a  more  questionable  character  opened  from  time  to  time.  A  Mrs.  English  kept  up 
a  cheap  museum  on  Washington  street  for  sometime,  several  years  ago,  and  another, 
the  greatest  merit  of  which  was  its  sign,  was  maintained  in  a  shed  on  the  corner  of 
Illinois  and  Georgia  streets.  The  Exchange  building  on  Illinois  street  was  con- 
verted into  a  "music  hall"  in  1869,  which  did  pretty  well  with  "minstrels"  and 
dances  of  doubtful  decency.  In  1870  it  was  reopened  with  a  similar  "show,"  and 
drew  full  houses  through  the  winter  till  it  was  closed  up  by  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  which  bought  the  building  for  its  own  use  and  emptied  the 
theatre,  ballet  girls,  "can-can"  and  "oil  room"  into  the  street.  In  the  winter  of 
1869,  before  the  Exchange  was  first  opened  for  this  sort  of  entertainment,  a  "  Va- 
rieties "  affair  of  the  vilest  kind  was  maintained  for  a  while  in  Court  street,  south 
of  the  Post  office. 

Both  tbe  Masonic  Hall  and  Morrison's  Opera  Hall  have  been  converted  into 
temporary  Theatres  at  times,  and  a  notice  of  them  will  be  found  in  the  general 
history  of  the  city. 

Among  the  amusements  of  earlier  days  may  be  mentioned  the  first  "  Pleasure 
Garden,"  corner  of  Tennessee  and  Georgia  streets— the  site  of  the  present  Catholic 
block — laid  out  and  maintained  by  John  Hodgkins,  one  of  our  old  restaurant 
keepers,  and  earliest  ice  cream  and  confectionary  makers,  who  kept  on  Washing- 
ton street  where  Blackford's  block  now  stands.  The  ground  was  well  set  with 
apple  and  other  fruit  trees,  and  under  these  seats  were  made,  and  bowers  built,  and 
flower  beds  were  planted,  and  a  very  handsome  resort  created,  which  was  well 
patronized  for  two  or  three  summers.  It  was  far  superior  to  anything  in  the  beer 
garden  way  we  have  since  had,  though  the  ^Apollo  Garden,  on  Kentucky  avenue, 
with  its  trees,  bowers,  open  air  theatre,  and  other  attractions,  made  an  approach 
to  it  at  the  outset. 

Although  not  exactly  an  "  amusement,"  no  more  appropriate  place  occurs  to 
mention  our  city  brass  bands,  of  which  we  have  had  several.  Though  in  these 
later  days  they  have  become  a  regular  occupation  and  passed  out  of  the  province  of 


AMUSEMENTS. 

history,  the  earlier  ones  were  admired  if  not  cherished  objects  of  city  enthusiasm,, 
and  were  quite  as  much  of  an  "  institution  "  as  any  place  of  amusement.  The  first 
that  ever  attained  skill  enough  to  be  entertaining  was  the  old  Indianapolis  Band, 
taught  and  led  by  Mr.  Protzman,  a  soap  boiler.  Its  leading  members  were  Edward 
S.  Tyler,  the  bugler,  James  McCready,  trombone  player,  Thos.  Me.  Baker,  another 
trombone  performer,  Aaron  D.  Ohr  and  James  McCord  Sharpe,  clarionet  player. 
The  instruments  were  obtained  by  a  subscription  of  the  citizens.  This  band  stuck 
together  for  some  years,  and  achieved  the  reputation  of  considerable  proficiency. 
It  played  for  the  Thespian  Corps  at  one  time,  and  provoked  some  harsh  comments 
thereby  from  some  of  the  preachers.  Later,  in  1850,  or  thereabouts,  another  band 
was  formed  by  Mr.  George  Downie,  a  more  accomplished  musician  than  Mr.  Protz- 
man, and  was  maintained  for  a  time  with  considerable  success.  Mr.  Downie  was 
the  manager  of  a  great  band  convention  held  here  in  1853,  which  gave  concerts 
and  held  a  sort  of  musical  tournament  for  some  prize  or  other.  Since  that  time 
bands  have  ceased  to  be  sucli  prominent  features  of  city  history,  and  there  is  no 
occasion  to  trace  them  further. 


a  p  1 13  r 


N  E WSPA  PEES. 

jjROBABLY  no  town  in  the  United  States  ever  allowed  a  newspaper  to  strike 
root  so  speedily  and  deeply  as  Indianapolis.  It  w.as  laid  out  in  1821,  and 
the  first  sale  of  lots  were  held  in  October  of  that  year.  The  population  was 
only  about  400,  possibly  450.  There  were  no  mails,  no  roads,  no  water  routes,  n» 
access  to  the  outside  world,  and  there  were  no  improvements  and  no  population  in 
the  adjoining  country.  The  promise  of  the  means  to  make  a  paper  either  interesting 
or  profitable,  was  about  as  feeble  as  can  be  imagined.  But,  as  stated  in  the  begin- 
ning of  this  history,  the  Indianapolis  Gazette  was  started  early  in  the  succeeding 
year,  January  28,  1822,  and  under  one  name  or  another  remains  here  to-day,  with 
a  reasonable  certainty  of  lasting  as  long  as  the  city  lasts.  A  sketch  of  its  early 
history  is  given  in  the  place  where  its  establishment  is  noticed  and  need  not  be 
repeated  here.  Its  proprietors  were  George  Smith  and  Nathaniel  Bolton,  the  latter 
well  known  to  the  citizens  of  the  "middle  era."  but  the  former  is  remembered  now 
only  by  a  few  of  the  oldest  settlers  or  their  oldest  descendants.  Mr.  Bolton's  wife 
ilrs.  Sarah  T.  Bolton,  now  Mrs.  Keese,  was  for  many  years  the  only  literary  charac- 
ter of  whom  Indiana  could  boast,  and  her  fame  was  by  no  means  as  wide  as  her 
worth,  though  it  has  extended  since.  In  1829,  the  proprietors,  after  dissolving 
partnership  in  1823  and  reuniting  in  1824,  separated  finally,  and  Mr.  Bolton  main- 
tained the  paper  alone  until  the  fall  of  1830.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  the 
Indiana  Democrat  had  been  started  by  Alexander  F.  Morrison,  and  the  Gazette 
•was  sold  out  to  it  and  consolidated  with  it,  retaining  the  new  name,  however.  Mr. 
Morrison  was  long  the  most  prominent  and  able  editor  in  the  State.  Though  not 
a  polished,  he  was  a  clear,  forcible  and  pungent  writer,  and  particularly  effective 
in  the  use  of  sarcasm  and  personalities,  in  which  he  has  had  few  equals.  A  news- 
paper in  his  day  was  merely  a  vehicle  for  the  promulgation  of  political  opinions 
and  diatribes,  and  he  was  admirably  adapted  for  its  work.  News  was  but  a  little 
part  of  its  interest  or  value.  Few  expected  or  cared  to  find  any  thing  more 
in  it  than  its  editor's  or  correspondents'  notions.  For  the  present  duty  and  aim  of 
a  paper  he  might  not  have  been  so  well  suited,  though  as  leading  editor  of  the 
Sentinel  in  1856,  or  thereabouts,  he  showed  no  lack  of  the  ready  ability  necessary 
to  the  production  of  a  daily  sheet.  He  alone  maintained  and  conducted  the 
Democrat  for  some  years.  Subsequently  he  was  joined  by  Mr.  Bolton,  and  after  a 
period  of  joint  management  he  retired,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  John  Livings- 
ton, who  finally  purchased  Mr.  Bolton's  interest  and  took  the  entire  control  himself. 
It  was  published  the  greater  portion  of  the  time  during  these  changes,  in  a  little 
brick  building,  on  the  site  of  Temperance  Hall,  erected  for  it.  This  building  was 
fitted  up  as  a  theatre  in  1841,  Mr.  Adams  and  Mrs.  Drake  played  there  as 
noted  in  the  chapter  on  "  Amusements."  During  the  time  of  Mr.  Livingsten's 
sole  ownership  it  was  published  in  the  upper  story  of  the  frame  building  where 


NEWSPAPERS. 

George  F.  Meyer's  tobacco  store  is.  In  July,  1841,  George  A.  Chapman  and  Jacob 
Page  Chapman,  who  had  previously  published  a  Democratic  paper  in  Terre  Haute, 
bought  out  Mr.  Livingston,  removed  the  office  to  a  one  story  frame,  on  the  site  of 
Blake's  block,  east  of  Masonic  Hall,  and  changed  the  name  to  the  Indiana  Sentinel. 
The  Sentinel,  under  the  vigorous  management  of  the  Chapmans,  speedily  became 
the  leading  paper  of  the  State,  and  its  strong,  racy  editorials,  mainly  the  work  of 
Page  Chapman,  exercised  an  influence  in  the  party  it  represented  never  before 
attained  by  any  sheet,  and  probably  not  surpassed  by  any  since.  It  was  one  of 
the  main  influences  in  reversing  the  political  condition  of  the  State.  Only  weekly 
and  semi- weekly  editions  were  published  at  first,  but  on  the  6th  of  December  1841  a 
daily  sheet  was  issued  and  m-iiatained  through  the  session  of  the  Legislature. 
The  following  year  the  daily  was  resumed  and  continued  through  the  session  as 
before,  and  in  1843  the  experiment  was  repeated,  but  it  was  not  until  April  28th, 
1851,  that  this  feature  was  made  premanent.  During  this  time  the  proprietary 
management  remained  with  the  Chapmans,  though  Mr.  John  S.  Spann  became  a 
partner  in  November  1846.  A  new  two  story  brick  building  was  erected  purposely 
for  the  paper  in  1844,  on  Illinois  street,  (now  occupied  by  a  saloon),  and  the  pub- 
lication, with  an  extensive  job  establishment,  continued  there  till  about  June,  1850, 
when,  Chapmans  and  Spann  dissolving  their  connection,  Mr.  William  J.  Brown 
became  the  owner  of  the  paper  and  removed  it  to  a  building  on  West  Washington 
street,  near  Meridian.  The  job  office  was,  at  the  same  time,  sold  to  E.  W.  H.  Ellis 
and  John  S.  Spann,  and  retained  in  the  old  building.  In  April,  1852,  Mr.  Brown 
passed  the  paper  over  to  his  son,  Mr.  Austin  H.  Brown,  remaining  as  leading  editor, 
however,  and  it  was  removed  to  the  Tomlinson  building,  on  East  Washington 
street,  opposite  the  Glenn  Block,  then  the  Wright  House.  On  the  2d  of  March, 

1855,  John  C.  Walker  and  Charles  W.  Cottom  bought  out  Mr.  Brown  but  retained 
the  old  location.     Messrs.    Walker  and  Holcombe  were  the  editors.     John  S. 
Norman,  of  the  New  Albany  Ledger,  with  Mr.  John  S.  Spann,  bought  out  Walker 
&  Cottom,  December  4th,  1855,  Mr.  Norman  assuming  the  editorial  control.     But 
he  did  not  like  the  position  of  ''party  organ,"  and  returned  to  New  Albany  in 
about  six  weeks,  the  paper  passing  into  the  hands  of  William  C.  Larrabee  and  C. 
W.  Cottom,  with  A.  F.  Morrison  and  Mr.  Larrabee  as  leading  editors,  January  24th, 

1856.  Seven   moaths   afterwards   Mr.   Joseph   J.    Bingham,    then    of  Lafayette, 
purchased  an  interest,  and  the  firm  of  Larrabee,  Bingham  &  Co.  held  the  con- 
cern till   January    13th,    1857,   when   it   was   taken   by  Mr.  Bingham  and  John 
Doughty  and  moved  to  the  old  Capital  House  building,  which  had  been  fitted  up 
in  first  rate  style,   making  the   most  commodious  office  then  in  the  State.     But 
here,  just  as  it  was  starting  off  with  every  promise  of  success,  it  was  overtaken 
by   an   appalling  catastrophe.     A  new  boiler  for  the  engine  of  the  press-room, 
placed  at  the  rear  end,  exploded  a  little  after  dark  on  the  evening  of  the  7tb  of 
April,  1857,  tearing  the  eastern  room  of  the  building  to  pieces;  precipitating  type, 
cases,  imposing  stones,  and  all  the  apparatus  of  the  office  down  upon  the  press- 
room ;  breaking  the  presses,  setting  fire  to  the  woodwork,  and  creating  a  scene  of 
horror  never  before  or  since  witnessed  in  this  city.     One  of  the  press  hands,  by 
the  name  of  Homer,  was  killed  instantly  and  several  others  injured.     Publica- 
tion was  suspended  and  appeals  for  assistance,  though  by  no  means  so  liberally 
responded  to  as  the  ability  and  value  of  the  paper  demanded,  brought  out  contribu- 
tions which  the  energy  of  the  proprietors  made  sufficient  to  allow  a  resumption  of 
work  on  the  21st.     But  the  embarrassment  caused  by  the  calamity  hung  upon  the 
proprietors  for  a  long  time.     The  Sentinel  Company,  which  then  took  the  establish- 


1 56  HOLLO WA  y'S  INDIA NAPOL IS. 

ment,  retained  it  till  July  31st,  1861,  when  Mr.  John  R.  Elder  and  John  Harkness, 
of  the  Locomotive,  joined  with  Mr.  Bingham  and  purchased  it,  removing  it  to  the 
Locomotive  office  on  South  Meridian  street,  near  Washington,  in  Hubbard's  block. 
In  1863  a  new  three  story  brick  building  was  erected  for  it,  on  the  other  side  of 
Meridian  street,  and  a  little  further  south,  and  it  remained  there,  till  1865.  Then 
Mr.  Charles  W.  Hall  bought  it  and  took  it  back  to  its  old  Capital  House  location 
and  changed  the  name  to  the  Herald.  With  Hall  &  Hutchinson  as  proprietors, 
and  Judge  Samuel  E.  Perkins  as  editor,  it  continued  there  till  October  1866, 
when  it  was  put  into  the  hands  of  a  receiver  and  bought  in  January  1867,  by 
Lafe  Develin,  of  Cambridge  City.  He  was  bought  out  by  the  present  owner,  Mr. 
Richard  J.  Bright,  in  April  1868,  the  name  changed  back  to  the  Sentinel  and  Mr. 
J.  J.  Bingham  installed  as  editor,  a  post  he  has  held  with  but  a  very  brief  inter- 
ruption since  1856.  The  paper  owes  much  to  Mr.  Bingham's  ability,  industry  and 
sagacity  as  a  political  writer,  and  the  party  owes  him  no  less  as  a  shrewd  and 
indefatigable  leader.  Mr.  Bright  removed  the  office  in  December  1869  to  the 
lew  building,  corner  of  Circle  and  Meridian  streets,  which  he  had  enlarged  from 
Wesley  Chapel.  It  is  now  one  of  the  largest  and  best  in  the  West.  On  the  4th  of 
September  1850,  Messrs.  Ellis  &  Spann  began  the  publication  of  the  Indiana  States- 
man, in  the  old  Sentinel  office  on  Illinois  street,  and  made  it  both  a  handsome  and 
good  paper  for  two  years.  It  was  sold  to  and  merged  with  the  Sentinel  in  Sep- 
tember 1852. 

A  little  more  than  a  year  after  the  appearance  of  the  Gazette,  the  history  of 
which  has  just  been  traced,  on  March  7th,  1823,  the  Western  Censor  and  Emigrant '* 
Guide  was  established  by  Harvey  Gregg  and  Douglass  Maguire,  in  a  building 
opposite  Henderson's  tavern,  near  the  spot  where  the  Sentinel  was  afterwards 
located  so  long.  Its  history  is  given  in  the  chapter  covering  the  date  of  its  first 
appearance,  and  only  its  later  changes  need  notice  here.  On  the  llth  of  January, 
1825,  its  name  was  changed  by  the  proprietor,  Mr.  John  Douglass,  to  the  Indiana 
Journal^  a  name  it  has  since  retained  through  all  changes  of  proprietorship,  and 
fully  entitle  it  to  the  honor  of  being  the  oldest  paper  of  the  Capital.  Its  career  has 
been  unbroken  from  that  time  till  the  present,  and  no  other  paper  can  claim  a 
longer  life  than  twenty-four  years.  The  Journal  is  now  forty-six  years  old. 
Douglass  Maguire  was  editor  under  Mr.  Douglass'  administration  —  the  latter 
rarely  attempted  to  manage  the  editorial  department  himself — till  1826.  Then 
Mr.  Samuel  Merrill  occupied  the  "tripod"  till  1829.  Messrs.  Douglass  &  Maguire 
renewed  their  connection  in  the  fall  of  1829,  with  the  old  arrangement  of  duties, 
and  continued  together  till  1835,  when  Mr.  S.  V.  B.  Noel  purchased  the  interest  of 
Mr.  Maguire,  and  the  firm  of  Douglass  &  Noel  was  formed,  lasting  till  February, 
1842.  Then  Mr.  Noel,  who  had  been  editor,  retired  and  was  succeeded  by 
Theodore  J.  Barnett,  a  man  of  decided  talents  and  respectable  attainments,  an 
eloquent  speaker,  and  well  adapted  by  temper  and  tastes  for  his  duties.  In  hie 
time  there  was  the  bitterest  newspaper  quarrel  that  had  been  known  in  the  Capital. 
The  campaign  of  1844  between  Clay  and  Polk  was  warm,  and  personalities  were 
freely  thrown  about.  The  editors,  of  course,  came  in  for  a  large  share,  and  they  were 
unusually  offensive.  The  consequence  was  a  close  approach  to  a  fight  between  Mr. 
Barnett  and  George  A.  Chapman  in  the  Post  Office,  one  day,  in  which  pistols  were 
drawn,  or  supposed  to  be,  And  a  furious  excitement  created.  But  before  this  col- 
lision, Mr.  Noel  had  purchased  the  paper,  and  Mr.  Douglass  retired  for  good  and 
all  from  the  business  he  had  followed  for  twenty  years  here.  Mr.  Kent  succeeded 
Mr.  Barnett  as  editor,  in  Mr.  Noel's  administration,  but  remained  only  a  few 


NEWSPAPERS. 

months.  John  D.  Defrees,  of  St.  Joseph,  then  recently  a  State  Senator  from  that 
county,  removed  here  and  became  editor  in  March  1845,  and  in  February  1846 
purchased  the  concern  and  retained  the  sole  control  of  it  till  the  fall  of  1854, 
when  he  sold  out  to  the  Journal  Company,  composed  of  Joseph  M.  Tilford,  James 
M.  Mai  lies,  Ovid  Butler  and  Kawson  Vaile,  the  last  recently  editor  of  a  free 
soil  paper  in  Wayne  county.  Mr.  Vaile  became  editor.  Berry  K.  Sulgrove 
became  its  editor  in  1852,  and  remained  so  up  to  1864.  For  multifarious 
knowledge,  indomitable  industry,  brillaint  composition  and  power  of  conden- 
sation, he  stands  confessedly  at  the  head  of  journalists  of  the  past  or  present 
day.  Since  Mr.  Sulgrove's  return  from  Europe  in  1867,  he-  has  been  a  fre- 
quent contributor  to  the  editorial  pages  of  the  JOURNAL,  as  well  as  its  tem- 
porary editor  during  two  sessions  of  the  Legislature.  Mr.  Barton  D.  Jones  ob- 
tained an  interest  in  1856,  and  became  local  editor.  The  company  sold  to  William 
R.  Holloway  &  Co.,  in  the  summer  of  1864,  Mr.  Holloway  assuming  the  editorial 
control  with  Mr.  H.  C.  Newcomb  as  political  editor.  Mr.  James  G.  Douglass 
and  Mr.  Alexander  H.  Conner  became  associated  with  Mr.  Holloway  in  February 
1865,  under  the  name  of  Holloway,  Douglass  &  Co.  In  the  winter  of  1866  Mr. 
Samuel  M.  Douglass — he  and  James  are  sons  of  the  old  proprietor,  John  Douglass — 
joined  with  his  brother  and  Mr.  Conner  and  bought  out  Mr.  Holloway,  and  the  firm 
of  Douglass  &  Conner  retained  the  establishment  till  June  1870,  when  it  was  pur- 
chased by  Lewis  W.  Hasselman  and  William  P.  Fishback.  Mr.  Holloway  re- 
purchased a  sixth  interest  in  1867  and  still  holds  it.  Some  weeks  ago  Mr.  Thomas 
D.  Fitch  purchased  of  Fishback  a  sixth  interest,  and  Mr.  Hasselman  gave  his  eldest 
son,  Otto  W.  Hasselman,  a  sixth  of  his  interest,  and  these  five  now  constitute 
the  proprietorship  of  the  Journal  establishment.  —  In  the  summer  of  1864,  Mr. 
Horatio  C.  Newcomb  became  editor  of  the  Journal  and  continued  till  December 
1868,  making,  by  all  odds,  the  ablest  and  most  successful  editor  the  paper  had 
ever  had.  As  a  writer  he  was  lucid,  coherent  and  logical,  little  given  to  brilliance 
of  effect,  but  never  mistaken  in  his  facts,  or  unsafe  in  his  conclusions.  He  was 
an  eminently  safe  party  guide,  and  never  set  the  "key  note  "  of  attack  or  defence 
from  which  he  or  his  party  had  to  abate  a  jot  of  pitch  or  force.  His  succes- 
sor, Mr.  Fishback,  though  less  experienced  in  his  duties,  gives  ample  promise 
of  needing  little  else,  if  he  needs  any  thing,  to  attain  the  same  enviable  posi- 
tion and  influence. — The  Journal  office  at  the  start  was  on  Washington  street — 
near  the  Capital  House  site  as  before  stated — subsequently  it  was  on  the  south 
side  of  the  same  street  in  the  frame  building  west  of  Hubbard's  block;  then 
in  the  three  story  brick  on  the  north  side  near  Meridian  street;  then  on  Penn- 
sylvania street  where  it  remained  till  the  fall  of  1860.  Here  the  first  steam  press 
was  erected,  and  here,  in  the  spring  of  1849,  the  office  was  seriously  damaged  by 
fire  which  involved  the  Post  Office,  then  in  the  same  building,  and  the  "  McCarty 
corner."  During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1860  the  Journal  Company 
erected  the  building  on  the  corner  of  Circle  and  Meridian  streets  expressly  for  it, 
and  had  the  best  office  in  the  State.  In  1866,  however,  the  proprietors,  Holloway, 
Douglass  &  Co.  purchased  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  building  and  lot,  corner  of 
Circle  and  Market  streets,  and  there  erected  a  superb  five  story  structure  which  is 
now  the  Journal  Building,  and  likely  to  stay  so.  Semi-weekly  editions  of  the  paper 
were  published  during  the  session  of  the  Legislature  for  a  long  time,  the  first 
appearing  December  10th,  1828.  A  tri-weekly  was  first  issued  December  12th 
1838.  A  daily  edition  was  first  published  during  the  session  of  the  Legislature  in 
1842,  beginning  with  the  12th  of  December,  and  repeated  at  the  same  season  there- 


158  HOLLOWATT8  IftViANAPOLIS. 

after,  till  the  assembling  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  in  1850.  Then  the  pub- 
lishing of  daily  verbatim  reports  of  the  proceedings  of  that  body  made  a  bigger 
effort  necessary,  and  a  larger  sheet  appeared  on  the  7th  of  October  of  that  year,  and 
in  one  size  or  another,  with  several  varieties  of  "heads"  and  arrangements  of  mat- 
ter, finally  settling  into  the  quarto  form  and  plain  letter  head,  it  has  continued  till 
now,  with  a  probability  of  lasting  as  long  as  daily  papers  are  needed  here. — Tke 
Sentinel  bought  and  absorbed  the  Statesman.  The  Journal  has  bought  and  absorbed 
two  or  three  evanescent  dailies.  The  first  of  these  was  the  Atlas,  started  by  John  D. 
Defrees,  on  south  Meridian  street,  in  Van  Blaricum's  block,  with  an  Erricson  hot 
air  engine  to  run.  its  presses,  in  July  1859.  'He  maintained  it  till  after  the 
election  of  1860,  and  sold  in  March  1861  to  the  Journal  Company.  In  186T 
Holloway,  Douglass  &  Co.  bought  the  Daily  Gazette,  another  weakling  that  fell  by 
ihe  way.  It  was  at  first  the  Indiana  American,  a  weekly  removed  here  from  Brook- 
ville  by  Rev.  T.  A.  Goodwin  in  1857.  He  sold  it  to  Downey  &  Co.,  who  changed 
it  to  a  daily  evening  paper  and  sold  it  to  Jordan  &  Burnett,  who  called  it  the 
Gazette  and  made  it  a  good  paper.  They  sold  it  in  1868  to  Smith  &  Co.;  they  to 
Shurtleff,  Macauley  &  Co.,  and  they  to  C.  P.  Wilder  who  sold  it  to  the  Journal 
men. — The  American,  as  a  weekly  issue,  has  been  resumed  by  the  original  proprie- 
tor, Mr.  Goodwin,  within  the  past  year. 

The  daily  press  for  the  first  few  years  of  its  existence  was  not  distinguished  by 
amazing  energy  or  enterprise.  The  amount  of  reading  matter  rarely  exceeded  four 
or  five  columns,  and  of  this  a  column  of  original  matter  would  have  been  rather 
an  unusual  proportion.  Telegraphic  dispatches,  though  published  when  the  first 
line  was  finished,  were  not  made  a  permanent  feature  for  some  years,  the  dispatches 
of  the  Cincinnati  papers  being  copied  usually  as  a  substitute.  In  fact  it  was  not 
until  the  seige  of  Sevastopol  made  telegraphic  news  particularly  interesting  that 
much  attention  was  given  this  now  overshadowing  feature  of  all  daily  papers. 
Even  then  the  reports  were  received  by  the  old  "recording"  pro.cess  of  dashes  and 
dots  on  a  long  strip  of  narrow  paper,  written  out  in  skeleton  by  the  operator,  and 
copied  by  the  editors,  each  for  himself  filling  up  the  skeleton  as  he  thought  best. 
Enterprise  in  other  respects  was  not  ahead  of  this  exhibition  in  the  telegraphic 
way.  No  attempt  was  made  to  report  a  night  meeting  for  the  next  morning's 
paper.  The  reports  of  Council  proceedings  were  usually  copied  from  the  Clerk's 
minutes  the  next  day,  and  published  the  day  after.  On  the  night  that  Hasselman 
&  Vinton's  machine  shop  was  burned  the  first  time,  it  was  thought  a  notable  bit  of 
enterprise  in  J.  H.  McNeely,  the  local  of  the  Journal,  to  stop  the  press  and  put  in 
a  five  line  item  announcing  the  catastrophe  and  probable  loss  the  next  morning. 
Editorial  comments  on  late  news  were  rare,  and  no  thought  was  entertained  of 
making  a  telegraphic  item  the  text  of  a  leader.  The  nearest  approach  to  it  that  had 
ever  been  attempted  were  the  leaders  in  both  papers  on  the  acquittal  of  Matt  Ward 
for  the  murder  of  a  school  teacher  in  Louisville.  The  news  came  by  the  noon 
Cincinnati  mail,  and  the  articles  appeared  the  following  morning.  In  1855  the 
Journal  published  a  five  column  report  of  the  proceedings  and  speeches  of  a 
meeting  of  "Old  Settlers"  at  Calvin  Fletcher's  house,  in  which  the  language  of 
the  speeches  was  followed  with  some  approach  to  accuracy,  the  parenthetical 
"cheers"  and  "laughter"  of  Eastern  papers  indulged  mildly,  and  a  general  effect 
of  verbal  daguerreotyping  attempted,  with  considerable  success.  It  was  a  novelty 
of  domestic  manufacture,  and  the  demand  for  "extra  copies"  was  heavy  for  several 
days  after.  It  was  the  first  decided  achievement  in  the  way  of  newspaper  enter- 
prise, and  was  followed  up  by  attempts  to  report,  or  at  least  notice,  night  meetings 


NEWSPAPERS. 


159 


in  the  next  morning's  paper,  and  generally  to  substitute  city  fashions  for  the  old 
time-ways  of  weekly  papers.     A  single  incident  will  show  the  condition  of  things 
into  which  this  reform  obtruded  better  than  any  description.     The  paper  was  put 
to  press  as  soon  as  the  day's  "composition"  was  finished,  usually  about  sun  down 
or  a  little  after.     One  Saturday  the  Journal  for  Monday  was  put  to  press  pretty 
late  in  the  afternoon,  but  in  time  to  be  sent  to  Cincinnati  by  the  night  train,  and 
the  Columbian,  then  edited  by  Albert  D.  Richardson,  since  so  tragically  notorious, 
came  out  on  the  same  Monday  with  a  quizzical  notice  of  the  Indianapolis  paper 
that   had   so  strangely  managed  to  discount  the   almanac.     If  the  Capital  had 
tumbled  into  the  gape  of  an  earthquake,  or  a  live  angel  had  sailed  across  the  State 
proclaiming  the  result  of  the  next  election,  the  paper  would  have  had  no  mention 
of  it.     In  the  Sentinel  the  reform  was  made  mainly  by  Mr.  Bingham,   ia  the  Jour- 
nal by  Mr.  Vaile,  the  principal  and  working  editors  of  their  respective  papers. 
Besides  the  two  earliest  and  best  known  papers,  and  those  which  they  have 
absorbed,  there  are  others  without  some  notice  of  which  this  sketch  would  be  incom- 
plete.    Somewhere  about  1850,  possibly  before,  a  little  paper  called  the  Daily  Dis- 
patch was  published  for  some  months  by  W.  Thompson  Hatch,  a  gentleman  of  con- 
siderable enterprise  but  restricted  in  pecuniary  and  intellectual  resources.      Its 
leading  feature  was  a  series  of  sketches  of  members  of  the  Legislature  of  the 
current  session.     There  is  an  impression  in  the  writer's  mind  that  an  effort  was 
made  both  before  and  after,  to  establish  a  neutral  daily  of  a  milk-and-water  com- 
plexion, but  without  success. — On  the  14th  of  May,   1857,   Messrs.    Cameron  & 
McNeely  started  the  Daily  Citizen,  and  made  a  very  sprightly  and  valuable  paper 
of  it,  but  a  year's  experience  proved  it  unprofitable  and  it  was  dropped  in  June 
1858. — In  July  1859,  the  Daily  Atlas  was  started  by  J.  D.  Defrees,  as  before  noted. 
The  Evening  Gazette,  changed  from  the  American,  transported  from  Brookville,  has 
been  noted. — The  Telegraph,  a  German  daily,  was  established  by  the  Freie  Presse 
Company  in  1866.     It  is  in  existence  and  doing  well  yet. — The  Evening  Commercial 
•was  established  by  Dynes  &  Co.,  in  1867,  in  the  place  of  the  sold  out  and  swallowed 
Gazette.    It  was  printed  at  first  at  Downey  &  Brouse's  place,  in  the  Sentinel  build- 
ing, on  Washington  street;  afterwards  in  the  Journal  building  on  Meridian  street. 
Then  it  was  sold  to  M.  G.  Lee,  the  present  proprietor  and  editor,  who  removed  it  in 
1868  to  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Illinois  streets,  opposite  the  Palmer  House, 
and  within  the  past  year  has  taken  it  back  to  Circle  street. — The  Daily  Evening 
Mirror,  in  1868  developed  from  the  Saturday    Mirror,  a  weekly  paper  established 
by  George  C.  Harding  and   Marshall  Henry,  December  22d,  1867.     Although  it 
was  not  allowed  the  use  of  telegraphic  dispatches,  its  local  matter  was  so  piquantly 
written  and  its  general  tone  so  different  from  that  of  the  party  organs,  that  it  attained 
a  very  good  circulation.     But  the  establishment  of  the  Evening  News,  in  Decem- 
ber 1869,  with  a  full  supply  of  afternoon  dispatches  and  market  renorts,  and 
with  an  editorial  conduct  as  independent,  as   the  Mirror's,  proved  too  much  for 
the  latter,  and  in  February  1870  it  was  sold  to  the  proprietor  of  the  News  and 
was  absorbed  by  it.      Judge  Fabius  M.  Pinch  was   associated  with  Harding  and 
Morton  during  the  greater   part   of  the   life   of  the   Daily  Mirror,   and  during 
the  last  four  months  it  was  edited  by  Mr.  John  Finch. — The  Daily  Evening  News 
was  established  by  John  H.  Holliday,  in  December  1869,  and  the  first  number 
appeared  on  the  7th  of  that  month.     It  was  the  first  evening  paper  that  anticipa- 
ted any  of  the  material  news  of  the  morning  papers,  and  its  low  price — two 
cents — speedily  introduced  it  into  houses  where  a  paper  had  never  been  taken 
before.     Its  circulation  within  the  city  now  equals  that  of  its  older  morning  cotem- 


BOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

poraries,  and  its  position  is  as  firmly  fixed.  It  is  published  in  the  new  Sentinel  build- 
ing.— In  June  1870,  Messrs.  Dynes  &  Cheney  started  the  Daily  Times,  a  morning 
paper  in  the  Reform  interest,  which  announced  its  "mission  fulfilled"  with  the  sale 
of  the  Journal  establishment  to  Messrs.  Hasselman  &  Fisbback,  and  died  after  a 
short  career  of  a  week,  selling  its  material  to  the  Journal.  It  had  nothing  else 
to  sell. 

In  distinguishing  between  Daily  and  Weekly  papers  the  line  of  separation 
must  not  be  pushed  too  far,  for  all  the  dailies  have  published  weekly  editions, 
made  up  almost  wholly  of  matter  k«pt  standing  from  the  several  daily  issues  of 
the  preceding  week.  But  there  have  been  weekly  papers  that  had  no  daily  connec- 
tions or  off-shoots  at  all.  The  first  of  these  that  attained  any  position  or  reputation, 
if  not  the  very  first  after  the  pioneer  papers,  was  the  Locomotive,  a  little  sheet  not 
much  larger  than  the  page  of  this  volume,  published  by  John  H.  Ohr,  Daniel  B. 
Culley  and  David  R.  Elder,  three  apprentices  in  the  Journal  office,  which  was  then 
on  the  north  side  of  Washington  near  Meridian  street.  The  first  number  appeared 
on  the  3d  of  April,  1847.  It  ran  through  one  volume  of  three  months  and  dis- 
appeared for  six  months.  It  was  made  up  of  selections,  and  contributions  of  school 
boys  and  young  gentlemen  of  immature  powers,  and  didn't  die  a  day  too  soon. 
It  was  revived  on  the  first  of  January  1848,  by  Douglass  &  Elder,  and  enlarged 
about  an  inch  all  round,  from  seven  to  eight  in  width,  and  from  ten  to  twelve  or 
thirteen  inches.  It  was  made  of  much  the  same  material  as  before,  but  devoting 
itself  wholly  to  local  matters,  gossip,  business  and  improvements,  which  were 
clear  below  the  range  of  the  stately  political  papers,  it  became  a  sort  of  family 
necessity.  In  March  1850,  John  R.  Elder  and  John  Harkness  took  it — then  pub- 
lished in  Hubbard's  block  on  Meridian  street  —  and  without  changing  its  local 
character,  put  a  new  force  not  only  into  its  editorial  matter  but  its  contributions, 
which  sprang  clear  above  the  puerile  level  of  its  former  life,  and  made  it  a  "  power  " 
in  the  town.  Its  circulation  for  some  years  was  the  largest  in  the  county  and 
entitled  it  to  the  Post  Office  advertisements.  In  July  1861,  the  proprietors  bought 
the  Sentinel,  as  before  stated,  and  amalgamented  the  Locomotive  with  it. 

In  1846  or  thereabout,  an  anti-slavery  paper,  called  the  Indiana  Freeman,  or 
some  such  name,  was  started  by  a  Mr.  Depuy  and  maintained,  with  decided  ability 
but  little  profit  or  popularity,  for  a  year  or  two.  Dr.  Ackley  assisted  the  editor 
at  times,  but  "abolitionism"  had  but  few  friends  in  those  days,  and  no  amount  of 
talent  could  have  maintained  it.  The  owner's  sign  was  stolen  one  night  and  placed 
upon  an  out-house,  and  the  office  was  besmeared  with  dirt  and  tar.  Threats  of 
mobbing  were  made  at  times,  and  more  than  once  Mr.  Depuy  watched  all  night 
long  for  marauders,  but  the  threats  never  exceeded  the  infliction  of  puerile  malice. 

In  September  1848,  Julius  Boetticher  attempted  the  hazardous  experiment  of 
publishing  a  German  paper  here,  and  the  Volksblatt  made  its  appearance,  from  one 
of  the  second  story  rooms  in  Temperance  Hall.  Mr.  Boetticher  and  his  daughter 
did  most,  if  not  all,  the  type  setting,  and  he  did  all  the  writing,  and  worked  the 
hand-press  upon  which  it  was  printed.  Nothing  but  the  most  untiring  industry 
and  perseverance  could  have  saved  it.  At  any  other  time  it  would  inevitably  died 
any  how,  but  the  universal  European  revolution,  with  the  succeeding  war  in  Hun- 
gary, gave  an  interest  to  foreign,  and  especially  to  German,  news,  which  enlarged 
the  circle  of  readers  and  advertising  patronage  at  the  same  time.  How  important 
to  it  were  little  influences,  which  two  or  three  years  later  it  could  have  kept  or 
lost  almost  without  knowing  it,  may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  Mr.  Boetticher 
attributes  his  determination  to  persevere,  after  the  first  disheartening  effort,  to  the 


NEWSPAPERS. 

^accession  of  a  considerable  Kst  of  cash  subscribers  brought  by  Prof.  Hoshour's  class 
in  German,  who  had  been  recommended  by  their  teacher  to  take  and  read  a  German 
'paper.  The  Volksblalt  is  now  a  "fixed  fact,"  with  a  large  and  remunerative  business. 
It  was  edited,  after  the  first  fierce  struggle  with  adversity  was  over,  by  Mr.  Paul 
'Geiser,  a  German  of  unusual  attainments,  and  decided  talents,  but  of  very  uncer- 
tain or  unsettled  principles.  Later  it  fell  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Adolph  Seiden- 
sticker,  who  was  editor  for  several  years.  It  is  now  published  in  Mr.  Boetticher's 
own  building  on  East  Washington  street  nearly  opposite  the  City  Hall. — In  Sep- 
tember 1851,  Ellis  &  Spana  started  the  Statesman,  as  related  in  the  account  of  the 
Sentinel  and  its  "tributaries."  It  lasted  just  one  year. — On  the  15th  of  August 
1851,  the  Hoosier  City,  a  neat  little  folio,  about  the  size  of  a  "foolscap  sheet" 
squared,  was  commenced  by  Samuel  H.  Mathers,  Francis  M.  Thayer,  now  editor 
of  the  Evansvilie  Journffl,  and  Henry  C.  Ferguson,  another  triplet  of  Journal 
apprentices,  like  those  that  originated  the  Locomotive.  Its  leading  articles  were 
•sprightly  and  well  written,  and  attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention.  Two  of  them, 
"Apology  for  Tobacco"  and  "A  Short  Plea  for  Ugliness,"  were  copied  all  over 
the  country  at  the  time,  and  one,  the  former,  was  republished  in  England.  Mr. 
Thayer  was  generally  supposed  to  be  the  author,  though  he  never  frankly — not- 
withstanding his  name— admitted  it.  It  was  closed  at  the  end  of  its  three  months 
volume  and  never  renewed.  —  About  the  same  time,  1851,  Rev.  B.  T.  Kavanaugh 
started  a  temperance  weekly  here  called  the  family  Visitor.  It  subsequently 
became  the  Temperance  Chart  and  was  edited  by  J.  W.  Gordon,  Esq. — On  the  3d  of 
September  1853,  the  Freie  Presse  was  established  by  an  association  of  Germans  of 
free  soil  tendencies,  to  counteract  the  influence  of  the  Volksblatt  which  was  given 
-decidedly  and  effectually  to  the  Democrats.  The  same  company,  or  its  successor, 
published  the  Daily  Telegraph.  The  editor  of  the  Freie  Pretse  who  became  most 
widely  known  as  connected  with  it  was  Mr.  Theodore  Hielscher,  a  German  of  the 
wildest  speculative  kind,  who  never  had  a  moderate  opinion  about  any  thing,  but 
withal  a  man  of  ability  and  scholarship.  He  remained  in  direction  of  the  paper 
for  some  years. — In  1855  Mr.  Charles  Hand  began  a  miscellaneous  sort  of  Weekly 
•called  the  Railroad  City,  but  it  died  in  a  few  months.  It  wasn't  intended  to  live 
long. —  Somewhere  about  this  time  the  Western  Universalist  was  established  here 
by  Mr.  Manford  and  Dr.  Jordan,  and  maintained  for  two  or  three  years.  —  The 
Witness,  a  paper  in  the  Baptist  interest,  conducted  by  Dr.  M.  G.  Clarke  belonged 
to  the  same  period.  It  was  published  at  the  Journal  office. —  On  the  3d  of 
January  1857,  the  Bidwell  brothers,  Andrew  and  Solomon,  began  the  publica- 
tion of  a  remarkably  well  printed,  but  decidedly  radical,  weekly,  called  the 
Western  Presage,  at  No.  86  East  Washington  street.  It  lasted  three  months. — 
The  Indiana  American,  late  of  Brookville,  was  brought  here  by  Rev.  Thomas 
A.  Goodwin,  as  heretofore  stated,  and  kept  up  for  a  time  with  a  good  deal  of 
energy,  but  it  was  sold  in  about  two  years  to  Downey  &  Co.,  who  changed  it  to  a 
Daily,  and  it  subsequently  became  the  evening  Gazette,  and  still  later  a  meal  for 
the  Journal. — The  period  of  the  war,  though  favorable  to  most  other  enterprises 
did  not  nourish  new  growths  of  newspapers.  The  times  were  too  feverish  for 
Weeklies,  and  it  took  too  much  money  to  establish  Dailies.  One  wouldn't  and 
the  other  couldn't  be  done.  The  first  important  effort  after  the  close  of  the  war, 
•was  that  of  the  Sunday  Mirror,  started  by  George  C.  Harding  and  M.  Henry,  in 
the  building  of  the  Franklin  Printing  Company  on  West  Maryland  street  near 
Meridian  street,  December  22d,  1867.  Mr.  Harding  was  the  sole  editor  for  a  time,  but 
was  subsequently  joined  by  Mr.  William  B.  Vickers.  John  R.  Morton  supplanted 
(11) 


BOLLOWATTS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

Mr.  Henry,  and  the  establishment  was  removed  to  Meridian  street,  its  present 
location.  Its  success,  with  the  writing,  especially  the  local  and  miscellaneous,  of 
the  two  editors  and  of  several  admirable  contributors,  with  the  soliciting  skill  of 
Mr  Morton,  was  soon  made  apparent,  and  encouraged  the  perilous  effort  of  grow- 
ing a  Daily  Evening  Mirror,  with  the  result  already  related.  After  the  sale  of  the 
Daily  to  the  News,  the  Weekly  was  abandoned,  and  Mr.  Vickers  began  the  publi- 
cation of  Town  Talk  in  its  place,  with  much  of  the  old  spirit  of  the  Mirror,  and  a 
good  promise  of  success.  But  Mr.  Harding,  after  some  weeks  of  silence,  revived 
the  Mirror,  effected  a  reunion  with  Mr.  Vickers  and  an  absorption  of  the  new 
paper,  and  the  old  name  was  filled  up  with  the  old  paper  in  every  important  fea- 
ture. In  the  latter  part  of  May  1870,  Mr.  Harding  sold  out  and  the  Mirror  has  since 
been  owned  and  edited  exclusively  by  Mr.  Vickers.  It  is  the  only  exclusively 
literary  Weekly  in  the  city,  and  stands  at  the  head  of  its  class  in  the  State. — Shortly 
after  the  suspension  of  the  Mirror,  Mr.  John  R.  Morton  established  the  Journal  of 
Commerce,  a  Weekly  devoted  to  the  business  interests  of  the  city  and  State.  It 
was  at  first  edited  by  Enos  B.  Read,  late  of  Cincinnati,  but  subsequently  by  Dr, 
"VVinslow  S.  Pierce,  a  gentleman  well  known  in  the  business  circles  of  the  State. 
The  office  is  now  on  Washington  street,  opposite  th«  Trade  Palace. — The  People, 
started  by  Enos  B.  Read,  late  editor  of  the  Journal  of  Commerce,  Mr.  Schellman 
and  George  J.  Schley,  is  a  Sunday  paper,  the  only  one  we  have,  given  to  illustrations, 
sensations  and  intellectual  spice  and  pepper  generally.  It  is  published  on  Circle 
street.  With  these  may  be  mentioned  the  Little  Sower,  and  Little  Watchman, 
Children's  Sunday  School  papers,  edited  by  Rev.  W.  W.  Dowling.  They  are 
handsomely  printed,  well  conducted  and  very  widely  circulated. 

The  first  monthly  publication  was  the  Indiana  Farmer,  established  by  Osborn- 
&  Willetts.  It  had  not  a  very  promising  field,  and  accomplished  little.  It  died 
somewhere,  about  1839  or  '40,  or  came  so  near  it  that  its  revival,  with  Henry 
Ward  Beecher  as  editor,  was  like  making  a  new  affair.  Mr.  Beecher  was  hardly 
so  profound  an  agriculturist  as  Mr.  Greeley,  for  his  experience  did  not  extend  be- 
yond his  lot  on  Ohio  and  New  Jersey  streets,  where  he  raised  more  flowers  than 
fruit,  but  he  could  ring  endless  changes  and  pleasant  ones  on  the  primary  ne- 
cessity of  good  ploughing  and  sound  seed,  and  they  were  really  more  needed  than 
instructions  in  "drainage"  or  "humic  acids"  or  "constituent  elements."  One 
of  his  "squibs"  on  the  unusual  effect  of  a  "well  polished  plow"  in  producing 
'  good  crops,  which  explained  in  the  conclusion  that  the  polish  would  do  no  good 
unless  made  by  constant  rubbing  in  the  earth,  was  widely  copied  and  hardly  ever 
properly  credited.  In  very  recent  times  the  North  Western  Farmer,  by  Dr.  T.  A. 
Bland,  succeeded  by  Messrs.  Caldwell  &  Kingsbury,  has  taken  the  place,  or  a 
higher  one,  of  the  old  monthly.  The  Christian  Record,  a  monthly  organ  of  the  de- 
nomination of  Christians,  started  at  Bloomington,  was  removed  to  this  city  by  the 
proprietor,  James  M.  Mathes,  in  1854  or  '55,  and  it  has  continued  here  ever  since. 
It  is  now  in  charge  of  Rev.  Elijah  Goodwin.  The  following  list  of  the  publications 
now  published  here  is  all  that  need  be  said  : 

DAILY. — Journal,   Sentinel,   Commercial,    News,  Telegraph,  (German.) 

WEEKLY. — American,  Journal  of  Commerce,  Mirror,  People,  Independent, 
(Temp.,)  Little  Sower,  Volksblatt,  (Ger.)  Spottsvogel,  (Ger.)  Zu  Kunft,  (Ger.  Turner.) 

MONTHLY. — Masonic  Advocate,  Odd  Fellows'  Talisman,  Western  Journal  of 
Medicine,  North  Western  Farmer,  School  Journal,  Benham's  Musical  Review, 
Willard  s  Musical  Visitor,  Christian  Record,  Phonic  Advocate,  Little  Chief,  Bee 
Journal,  American  Housewife,  Ladies'  Own  Magazine,  Morning  Watch. 


EDUCATIONAL. 

THE   SCHOOLS   OF   INDIANAPOLIS,    FROM    1851    TO    1853. 

The  Schools  of  Indianapolis  have,  from  the  early  days  of  the  city,  been  in 
good  standing  and  repute. 

For  thirty-three  years  after  the  founding  of  the  town,  the  schools  were  all  pri- 
vate or  denominational ;  but  many  of  them  were  characterized  by  strong  points  of 
excellence,  of  which  pleasant  memories  are  cherished  by  many  of  the  older  citizens. 

Our  object  is  to  give  a  brief  narration  of  some  features  of  interest  connected 
with  the  public  schools  of  the  city,  and  our  plan  necessarily  excludes  any  other 
than  a  casual  reference  to  the  private  schools  which  ante-dated  the  organization  of 
the  common  school  system. 

In  the  year  1821,  one  year  after  the  selection  of  the  site  for  the  capital,  the 
first  teacher  appeared.  "With  a  very  limited  number  of  poor  pupils,  the  incoma 
arising  from  his  enterprise  was  not  encouraging ;  the  school  was  soon  given  up, 
and  the  teacher  left  to  practice  his  profession  in  more  fruitful  fields. 

Several  citizens,  now  living,  received  their  first  knowledge  of  letters  from  the 
instruction  of  the  late  venerable  James  Blake,  in  the  well-remembered  Sunday 
school  conducted  by  him  in  Caleb  Scudder's  cabinet  shop. 

During  the  years  1822,  1823  and  1824,  there  were  private  schools  started,  of 
moderate  success  and  usefulness.  In  the  Spring  of  1825,  the  year  after  the  removal 
of  the  capital  from  Corydon  to  Indianapolis,  the  number  of  children  had  multi- 
plied in  the  town,  and  no  one  was  found  willing  or  able  to  instruct  them.  The 
necessity  becoming  urgent,  Samuel  Merrill,  then  Treasurer  of  State,  was  induced 
to  open  a  school  in  a  log  Methodist  church  building,  on  Maryland  street,  between 
Illinois  and  Meridian.  The  school  was  much  needed,  and  did  a  good  work  in 
starting  aright  the  lives  of  many  of  our  useful  citizens. 

In  the  Autumn  of  1826,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Sharpe  came  to  the  town,  with  his  fam- 
ily, from  Kentucky;  and,  in  November  of  that  year  established  a  schjol  in  the 
school-room  of  the  old  Presbyterian  Church,  on  Pennsylvania  street,  between 
Market  and  Ohio.  Mr.  Sharpe  at  once  took  a  position  as  a  citizen  of  the  first  order 
of  merit,  and  a  teacher  of  rare  ability  and  worth.  He  was  a  man  of  culture  and 
accomplishments;  and,  by  his  excellent  qualifications  as  a  teacher,  gave  tone  to 
popular  education  in  the  minds  of  the  public.  Many  of  our  mo^t  estimable  citizens 
are  indebted  to  his  moral  and  religious  counsels,  as  well  as  to  his  instructions  in 
literature  and  science,  for  their  success  in  after  life.  He  was  well  adapted  to  lay 
broad  and  deep  the  foundation  of  a  popular  system  of  education.  In  his  school 
duties  he  was  assisted  by  his  son,  Thomas  H.  Sharpe,  now  living,  an  honored  and 
well-known  citizen  of  Indianapolis. 

At  a  later  period,  in  1830  and  after,  Thomas  D.  Gregg  taught  an  excellent 
school  on  the  corner  of  Market  and  Delaware  streets. 

Rev.  Wm.  A.  Holliday  will  be  well  remembered  as  a  worthy  and  successful 
teacher. 

After  the  County  Seminary  was  finished  on  University  square,  a  series  of  ex- 


HOLLOWAT'S  IKDIAKAPOLIS. 

cellent  schools  were  taught  there,  from  1845  to  1854,  under  the  charge  of  James  S. 
Kemper,  Ebenezer  Dumont,  J.  P.  feafford,  Benjamin  L.  Lang,  E.  P.  Cole,  and  other 
successful  teachers.  During  this  period  there  were  also  a  number  of  other  private 
schools  of  merit. 

How  THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  WERE  STARTED. — It  was  not  until  the  Winter  of 
1846-7  that  any  attempt  was  made  to  establish  a  system  of  free  schools  for  the 
city.  The  measures  then  taken  grew  by  slow  degrees,  until  six  years  afterward 
a  free  school  was  opened  for  two  months ;  but  it  was  nine  years  after  the  initiatory 
steps  were  taken  before  free  schools  for  the  full  school  year  were  actually  es- 
tablished. 

From  the  Report  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Public  Schools,  for  the  school  year  end- 
ing September,  1866,  we  extract  the  following  "historical  sketch  of  the  schools:  " 

"  During  the  LegisLtive  session  of  1846-7,  the  first  city  charter,  prepared  by 
the  late  Hon.  Oliver  H.  Smith,  for  the  town  of  Indianapolis,  was  introduced  into  the 
General  Assembly.  It  would  have  passed  without  opposition  as  a  matter  of  course 
and  courtesy,  had  not  a  well-known  member  from  this  town,  Mr.  S.  V.  B.  Noel, 
presented  as  an  amendment  Section  29,  which  provided  that  the  City  Council  should 
be  instructed  to  lay  off  the  city  into  suitable  school  districts,  to  provide  by  ordinance 
for  school  buildings,  and  the  appointment  of  teachers  and  superintendents ;  and, 
further,  that  the  Council  should  be  authorized  to  levy  a  tax  for  school  purposes,  of 
not  exceeding  one-eighth  of  one  per  centum  of  the  assessment. 

"The  amendment  met  with  a  vigorous  and  determined  opposition  from  several 
influential  members,  *  *  whose  arguments  carried  weight;  and  the  amendment 
was  in  peril,  when  a  prudent  and  useful  member,  who  advocated  all  sides  on  vexed 
questions,  moved  to  still  further  amend  by  providing  that  no  tax  should  be  levied 
unless  so  ordered  by  a  vote  of  a  majority  of  the  town,  at  the  ensuing  April  elec- 
tion, when  the  ballots  should  be  marked  '  Free  Schools,'  and  '  No  Free  Schools.' 

"  The  charter,  thus  amended,  became  a  law. 

"  An  animated  contest  ensued  in  the  town,  and  at  the  first  charter  election  the 
school  question  became  the  overshadowing  issue.  The  opposition  was  thin  and 
noisy.  The  friends  of  free  schools  were  quiet,  but  resolute ;  and  on  the  day  of 
election  were  by  no  means  sanguine  of  the  result. 

"  A  citizen,  who  was  to  a  considerable  degree  a  representative  of  the  learning, 
jurisprudence  and  capital  of  the  town,  the  late  venerable  and  eminent  Judge  Black- 
ford,  was  earnestly  cheered  as  he  openly  voted  a  ballot  endorsed  '  Free  Schools.' 
The  cause  of  impartial  education  triumphed  by  an  overwhelming  majority. 

"  The  population  of  Indianapolis  was  then  about  six  thousand.  City  lots  and 
building  material  were  cheap  and  abundant ;  but  the  valuation  of  property  was 
low,  and  twelve  and  a  half  cents  on  a  hundred  dollars  produced  but  a  slender  rev- 
enue. The  proceeds  of  the  tax  were  carefully  husbanded,  and  economically  in- 
vested, from  time  to  time,  in  school  lots  and  buildings.  Lots  were  purchased  and 
houses  built  in  seven  wards  of  the  city,  and  teachers  appointed,  who  received  their 
limited  compensation  from  the  patrons  of  the  schools. 

THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS,  FROM  1853  TO  1871. — "  For  a  period  of  six  years  the 
records  show  payments  made  by  the  city  treasurer  for  lots  and  buildings,  but  none 
for  teachers'  salaries.  Previous  to  1853,  the  schools  were  managed  by  trustees  in 
each  of  the  school  districts  into  which  the  city  was  divided.  The  schools  had  no 
central  head,  and  no  organization  outside  of  the  several  districts.  In  January, 
1853,  the  Council  appointed  Messrs.  H.  P.  Coburn,  Calvin  Fletcher  and  H.  F.  West, 


EDUCATIONAL. 

the  first  Board  of  Trustees  for  the  city  schools.  At  their  first  meeting,  March  18, 
1853,  thej  elected  ten  teachers  for  the  city  schools,  and  ordered  that  they  receive 
$2.25  a  scholar  for  the  term,  to  be  paid  by  the  parent  or  guardian.  April  8,  1853, 
it  was  ordered  that  the  sixth  ward  lot  be  graded.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that 
thirteen  years  elapsed  before  the  grade  was  made.  April  25,  1853,  the  first  free 
schools  were  opened  for  a  session  of  two  months.  On  this  date  a  code  of  rules  and 
regulations,  prepared  and  reported  by  Calvin  Fletcher,  was  adopted.  These  rules 
were  comprehensive  and  well  matured,  and  constitute  the  basis  of  the  code  now 
in  force  in  the  schools.  May  14,  1853,  occurs  the  first  record  of  the  payment  of 
salaries  to  teachers. 

"  From  this  time  forward,  the  receipts  from  city  taxation  and  the  State  school 
fund,  by  slow  degrees  increased,  and  the  schools  flourished  and  grow  in  favor  with 
all  good  citizens. 

"Early  in  1855,  Mr.  Silas  T.  Bo  wen  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the 
schools,  with  instructions  to  visit  and  spend  a  day  in  each  school  every  month,  and 
to  meet  the  teachers  every  Saturday  for  review  of  the  work  done,  instruction  in 
teaching,  and  classification.  His  contract  with  the  Board  called  for  about  one-third 
of  his  time  m  the  discharge  of  these  and  other  duties.  It  is  clear,  from  the  ardu- 
ous labor  performed,  that  the  schools  got  the  best  of  this  bargain. 

"  March  2,  1856,  Mr.  George  B.  Stone  was  appointed  superintendent.  All  his 
time  was  given  to  the  schools,  and  they  were  conducted  with  vigor  and  success. 
*  *  *  The  schools  were  fully  and  generously  sustained  by  the  public.  The 
revenue,  in  great  part  derived  from  local  taxation,  was  sufficient  to  sustain  them 
prosperously  during  the  full  school  year.  But  this  period  was  of  short  duration. 
Early  in  1858,  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  decided  that  it  was  unconstitutional 
for  cities  and  towns  to  levy  and  collect  taxes  for  the  payment  of  tuition.  The 
effect  was  most  disastrous.  It  deprived  the  city  schools  of  the  principal  part  of 
their  revenue,  and  in  spite  of  generous  efforts  on  the  part  of  a  portion  of  the  pub- 
lic, the  free-school  graded  system,  which  had  taken  ten  jears  to  build  up,  was 
destroyed  at  a  blow.  The  superintendent  and  many  of  the  teachers  emigrated  to 
regions  where  schools  were,  like  light  and  air, — common  and  free  to  all ;  with  no 
constitutional  restrictions  or  judicial  decisions  warring  against  the  best  interests  of 
the  people. 

"Then  commenced  the  dark  age  of  the  public  schools  The  school-houses  were 
rented  to  such  teachers  as  were  willing,  or  able  from  scant  patronage,  to  pay  a  small 
pittance  for  their  use.  The  State  fund  was  only  sufficient  to  keep  the  schools  open 
one  feeble  free  quarter  each  year;  and,  in  1859,  even  this  was  omitted  for  want  of 
money.  *##**#*** 

At  length  the  Legislature  made  provision  for  more  efficient  and  prosperous  schools 
and  fuller  taxation  for  their  support. 

"  During  the  last  five  years,  the  schools  have  been  rapidly  gaining  in  length  of 
term,  and  in  general  prosperity  and  usefulness.  We  cannot  here  give  even  a  con- 
densed statement  of  the  successive  steps  by  which  this  improvement  has  been  ac- 
complished. The  schools,  during  the  last  two  years,  have  been  in  session  the  usual 
school  year  of  thirty-nine  weeks.  Considering  the  ten  years  required  to  develop 
an  efficient  system  of  schools,  previous  to  the  judicial  blotting-out,  and  the  slow 
growth  of  the  nine  subsequent  years,  it  is  hoped  that  no  further  disaster  will  occur 
to  set  them  back  another  decade,  but  that  they  may  go  on  increasing  in  strength 
and  vigor,  and  each  succeeding  year  be  stronger  and  better  than  the  last." 

In  April,  1854,  an  enumeration  of  the  school  population  was  taken  by  order  of 


166  BOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

the  Board  of  Trustees.  The  number  of  persons  in  the  city  between  the  ages  of  five 
and  twenty-one  was  found  to  be  three  thousand  and  fifty-three.  At  that  time  there 
were  enrolled  in  the  schools  eleven  hundred  and  sixty  pupils,  with  an  average  daily 
attendance  of  eight  hundred  and  one,  nearly  equally  divided  between  the  then 
seven  wards  of  the  city.  There  were  also  in  attendance  at  the  High  School  in  the 
Old  Seminary,  on  University  square,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  pupils,  under  the 
charge  of  Mr.  E:  P.  Cole  as  principal,  who  enjoyed  the  moderate  salary  of  $250  a 
quarter. 

The  course  of  study  in  the  high  school  was  about  the  same  as  in  the  A  and  B 
intermediate  grades  of  the  present  day,  and  embraced  instruction  only  in  reading, 
writing,  spelling,  arithmetic,  geography,  and  grammar. 

The  above  is  the  firstrecord  to  be  found,  as  regards  either  the  school  population, 
enrollment,  attendance,  or  the  grading  of  pupils.  The  public  school  statistics, 
therefore,  date  back  from  the  present  time  only  seventeen  years. 

During  ten  of  those  years,  from  1853  to  1863,  the  record  is  very  imperfect,  in 
respect  of  the  working  and  grading  of  the  schools  and  the  enrollment  and  attend- 
ance of  pupils.  It  is  impossible  to  learn,  with  any  accuracy,  how  many  pupils  were 
in  the  schools,  or  what  methods  of  instruction  were  carried  out. 

All  the  material  facts  to  be  found  of  record  are  embraced  in  the  table  of  the 
statistics  of  the  schools  appended  to  this  sketch.  From  April,  1857,  to  May,  1858, 
a  period  of  thirteen  months,  the  minute  book  of  the  School  Board  shows  no  record 
•whatever. 

In  June,  1858,  the  Trustees  ordered  their  first  levy  for  school  purposes,  of  fifteen 
cents  on  the  hundred  dollars  of  valuation,  for  the  purpose  of  building  school  houses 
and  for  the  current  expenses  of  the  schools.  In  December  of  the  same  year,  the 
Trustees  resolved  that,  "  as  circumstances  have  occurred  since  the  levy  of  the  above 
tax,  making  it  difficult  for  the  tax-payers  to  meet  the  requisition  in  full;  and  where- 
as the  building  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  city  can  be  postponed ;  therefore, 
resolved  that  the  County  Treasurer  be  instructed  to  collect  but  seven  and  one-half, 
instead  of  fifteen  cents,  of  that  levy."  The  school-house  alluded  to,  the  new  Fourth 
ward  house,  was  commenced  seven  years,  and  finished  nine  years,  after  the  above 
action  of  the  Board. 

During  the  long  vacation  of  the  schools,  for  the  two  years  ending  February, 
1860,  the  school  property  was  cared  for,  and  the  School  Board  exercised  some  super- 
vision over  the  private  schools,  which  were  kept  in  the  rented  school-houses.  The 
quarterly  rental  of  ten  to  thirty  dollars  a  term  for  the  small  and  large  buildings, 
was  moderate;  but  the  payments  were  more  moderate,  as  the  schools  receiv  ed  but 
limited  patronage,  and  the  rents  were  generally  either  excused  or  unpaid. 

In  June,  1858,  Mr  T.  J.  Vater  was  employed  to  care  for  the  school  property  ; 
and  in  September  of  the  same  year,  James  Greene  was  appointed  School  Director, 
at  a  salary  of  $250  a  year  during  vacation,  and  $500  a  year  during  "term  time," 
when  he  was  to  give  one-half  of  his  time  to  the  schools. 

The  school  fund  fell  to  its  lowest  ebb  in  June,  1858,  when  the  balance  in  the 
city  treasury,  belonging  to  the  schools,  was  §28.98.  In  April,  1859,  there  was  in 
the  Treasury  $3,547,  for  the  current  expenses  of  the  schools,  being  the  proceeds  of 
the  levy  of  1858;  and  in  June,  $3,377,  belonging  to  the  tuition  fund,  and  available 
for  teachers'  salaries.  The  opening  of  the  schools,  however,  was  postponed  until 
February,  1860,  in  order  that  the  free  schools  might  then  remain  open  twenty-two 
weeks.  Twenty-nine  teachers  were  appointed,  at  salaries  ranging  from  $50  to  $100 


EDUCATIONAL. 


167 


*  quarter.    Of  those  then  selected  but  one  now  remains  in  the  schools — Miss  Eliza 
Ford,  the  accomplished  principal  of  the  Ninth  district. 

The  average  professional  life,  in  this  most  useful  vocation,  is  less  than  ten 
years ;  few  die,  but  nearly  all  resign. 

In  August,  I860,  the  City  Council  ordered  the  removal  of  the  old,  decaying 
County  Seminary  building,  on  University  square.  The  High  School  had  for  some 
years  been  abandoned,  but  its  home  was  now  destroyed. 

November  26,  1860,  the  schools  were  reopened  for  the  session  ef  1860-61,  -with 
twenty-nine  teachers.;  among  them  Miss  Ford  and  Miss  Alice  Gray,  of  the  present 
corps. 

In  June,  1861,  the  first  Board  of  Trustees,  elected  by  the  people,  one  from 
«ach  ward,  organized. 

After  the  close  of  the  "Winter  session  in  1861,  the  free  schools  were  not  reopened 
until  February  3,  1862.  They  then  continued  in  session  for  a  period  of  twenty-two 
weeks. 

Professor  Geo.  W.  Hoss  was  appointed  School  Director,  to  serve  during  the 
school  term,  giving  one-half  his  time  -to  the  schools,  at  a  salary  of  $500  per  annum. 
Twenty-nine  teachers  were  appointed,  at  the  following  rates  of  pay,  being  an  in- 
crease on  the  previous  salaries:  Principals  of  grammar  schools,  $150  a  term  of 
eleven  weeks  ;  assistants  of  same,  $75.  Principals  of  intermediate  departments, 
$75  to  $85  a  term  ;  and  teachers  in  the  primary  schools,  $50  to  $68.  The  aggre- 
gate compensation  of  teachers  for  the  two  terms  was  $4,658.  The  name  of  Miss 
Nebraska  Cropsey,  the  present  competent  principal  of  the  primary  departments  of 
the  schools,  first  appears  on  the  roll  of  teachers  for  1862. 

Owing  to  the  pressure  of  taxation,  by  reason  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  the 
annual  levy,  made  in  March,  1862,  was  reduced  to  three  cents  on  each  one  hundred 
dollars  valuation,  and  thirty  cents  on  each  poll. 

The  same  Spring,  by  order  of  the  Trustees,  shade-trees  were  planted  on  all  the 
school  property ;  and  the  present  appearance  of  the  grounds,  and  the  summer 
shade,  promoting  the  comfort  and  well-being  of  the  pupils  and  teachers,  attest  that 
the  measure  was  useful  and  well  timed. 

In  October  of  this  year  Professor  Hoss  was  appointed  Superintendent.  He  was 
required  to  give  one-fourth  of  his  time  to  the  schools,  for  the  quarterly  pay  of 
$62.50;  and  never  was  a  modest  salary  more  industriously  earned. 

The  next  term  of  the  schools  opened  in  November,  1862,  with  twenty-eight 
teachers.  The  salaries  were  fixed  at  the  following  prices  "  for  each  day's  services 
actually  rendered  ":  Principals  of  grammar  schools,  $2.50  per  day;  assistants,  $1; 
principals  of  the  1st,  3d,  4th,  6th  and  7th  wards,  (one-story  buildings),  $1.25 
per  day;  principals  of  the  1st,  2d,  5th  and  8th  wards,  (two-story  buildings),  $1.50 
per  day ;  primary  and  secondary  principals,  $1.10;  and  all  assistants,  85  cents  a 
day.  A  few  months  later  an  increase  of  twenty  per  cent,  on  the  above  salaries 
was  voted. 

In  the  Spring  of  1863  the  Trustees  levied  a  tax  of  fifteen  cents  on  the  $100. 
The  pay-roll  ef  twenty-nine  teachers,  for  the  quarter  ending  May  2,  1863,  amounted 
to  $2,834. 

In  May,  1863,  a  new  Board  of  nine  Trustees,  elected  by  the  people,  organized . 
and  in  August  following  elected  twenty-nine  teachers,  witlf  salaries  varying  but 
little  from  ihose  of  the  previous  year.  The  schools  opened  for  the  session  of  1863-4 
on  the  first  Monday  of  September,  1.863. 

On  the  29th  .of  August,  the  Trustees,  by  resolution,  defined  at  length  the  duties 


HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

of  Superintendent,  fixed  the  salary  at  $1,000  a  year,  and  elected  to  the  position  Pro- 
fessor A.  C.  Shortridge.  The  wonderful  growth,  vigor  and  success  of  the  schools*- 
during  the  last  eight  years,  show  how  prudent*  was  the  selection,  and  how  efficiently 
Professor  Shortridge  has  discharged  the  duties  of  this  important  trust. 

From  this  time  forward  the  income  arising  from  special  taxation,  and  the  ap- 
portionment from  the  State  Tuition  Fund,  rapidly  increased ;  so  tha,t  the  schools, 
although  the  number  of  pupils  multiplied  with  each  succeeding  year,  were  still 
kept  open  during  the  usual  school  year  of  thirty-nine  weeks. 

In  August,  1864,  the  High  School,  which  died  out  in  the  crash  of  1858,  wa» 
again  organized  in  the  school-h»use  on  the  corner  of  Vermont  and  New  Jersey 
streets,'  and  placed  in  charge  of  W.  A.  Bell,  the-  present  Principal,  at  a  salary  of 
$900  a  year. 

In  the  Spring  of  1865,  the  income  from  the  Special  Fund  was  $  15,983,  and  from 
the  Tuition  Fund,  $14,489.  In  April  of  that  year,  under  the  new  Common  School 
Law  of  the  State,  a  Board  of  three  Trustees  was  elected  by  the  Common  Council^ 
and  organized  on  the  23d  day  of  May. 

In  July,  the  School  Board  adopted  plans  for  two  new  school-houses,  with  capac- 
ity for  one  thousand  pupils  ;  one  on  the  corner  of  Michigan  and  Blackford  streets, 
and  the  other  on  the  corner  of  Vermont  and  Davidson  streets ;  and  appointed  Joseph 
Curz'on,  who  designed  the  buildings,  as  architect  and  superintendent.  One  of 
these  buildings  was  completed  and  opened  in  the  Winter,  and  the  other  early  in, 
the  Spring,  of  1867.  The  two  buildings,  fitted  and*  furnished  complete,  with  enclots- 
uresand  out-buildings,  cost  $71,000. 

In  February,  1866,  the  lot,  223  by  160  feet,  on  Union  street,  on  which  the  Sixth 
district  house  was  afterward  built,  was  bought  at  a  cost  of  $5,500. 

The  same  month,  the  first  Board  of  Visitors  was  appointed  by  the  Trustees — 
two  competent  persons  belli g  selected  from  each  ward  of  the  city.  Their  services 
were  cheerfully  rendered,  and  their  periodical  visits  to  the  schools  did  much  to  ac- 
quaint the  public  with  the  movements  and  progress  of  the  schools,  and  to  stimulate 
both  teachers  and  pupils  to  increased  diligence. 

In  June,  1866,  the  largely  increased  attendance  in  the  schools,  and  the  urgent 
want  for  more  school-room,  warranted  the  Board  in  making  the  annual  levy  for 
building  and  current  expenses,  to  th«  full  amount  allowed  by  law,  viz  :  25  cents  on 
$100  valuation  of  property,  and  50  cents  on  each  poll. 

The  same  season  the  salaries  were  ordered,  as  follows  :  Superintendent,  $2,000 ; 
Principal  of  the  High  School,  $1,250 ;  Teacher  of  Vocal  Music,  $1,500  ;  and  Teach- 
ers of  the  Ward  Schools,  from  $400  to  $625  per  annum.  Thirty-nine  teachers  were 
employed. 

Early  in  the  Fall  of  1866,  an  "  Annual  Report  of  the  Public  Schools,  for  the- 
year  ending  September  1, 1866"  was  published  in  a  pamphlet  of  ninety-four  pages. 
It  contains  much  useful  information  with  regard  to  the  schools,  statistics  of  perma- 
nent value,  and  a  resume  of  the  early  history  of  the  schools  j  to  which  we  are 
indebted  for  many  of  our  facts. 

In  January,  1867,  the  first  Evening  Schools  were  established,  and  have  been 
continued  during  the  Winter  months  to  the  present  time.  These  schools  have 
accomplished  great  good ;  but  the  attendance  has  not  been  at  all  equal  to  the  needs 
of  the  class  most  requiring  such  privileges. 

In  December,  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  property,  on  the  corner  of  Mar- 
ket and  Circle  streets,  was  purchased  for  the  High  School,  and  for  the  offices  of  th« 


EDUCATIONAL.  169 

Trusteps  and  Superintendent.  The  cost  of  the  property,  refitted  and  famished 
for  its  new  uses,  was  $18,000. 

In  February,  1866,  a  Training  School  was  organized  in  the  new  Fourth  district 
school-house.  Miss  A.  P.  Funnelle,  a  graduate  of  the  Model  School,  of  Oswego, 
N.  Y.,  and  of  the  N.  Y.  State  Normal  School,  at  Albany,  was  appointed  principal. 
The  object  of  this  school  was,  to  furnish  persons  desiring  situations  as  teachers  in 
the  Indianapolis  schools  with  the  requisite  instruction  and  training  in  the  whole 
science  and  art  of  Education,  so  as  to  fit  them  to  successfully  perform  their  duties  in 
any  primary  or  intermediate  grade.  The  results  accomplished  by  the  culture  and 
discipline  of  this  school  have  been  most  satisfactory. 

In  the  report  for  1869,  the  Superintendent  says: 

"  The  good  influences  of  our  Training  School  have  permeated  every  part  of  our 
school  system.  Not  a  single  one  of  the  five  thousand  pupils,  from  the  senior  class 
Of  the  High  School,  to  the  lowest  primary  grade,  has  failed  to  receive,  directly  or 
indirectly,  some  of  the  benefits  of  its  organization.  Twelve  young  ladies  graduated 
the  first  year,  fourteen  the  second,  eleven  the  third,  and  ten  the  fourth  ;  making  a 
total  of  forty-seven,  all  of  whom  at  once  became  teachers  in  the  public  schools  ;  thus 
securing  earnest,  cultivated,  and  thoroughly  competent  teachers,  for  the  most  part 
brought  up  by  our  own  firesides  and  in  our  own  homes,  and  educated  in  our  com- 
mon schools." 

Owing  to  want  of  room  suitable  for  the  purpose,  the  Training  School  was  not 
continued  for  the  year  1870-71,  but  it  is  understood  it  will  be  recommended  for  the 
year  1871-2. 

Immediately  after  the  dedication  of  the  new  school-house  on  Michigan  and 
Blackford  streets,  the  old  Fourth  Ward  House,  on  Market  street  was  assigned  to 
the  use  of  Colored  Schools,  but  without  provision  for  the  payment  of  teachers,  as 
the  law  establishing  such  school  had  not  then  been  enacted. 

June  16,  1867,  a  report  from  the  School  Trustees  was  presented  to  the  Common 
Council,  recommending  a  supplementary  levy  by  the  city  of  ten  cents  on  the  hun- 
dred dollars,  for  tuition.  In  this  report  it  was  estimated  that  the  annual  expense  for 
teachers'  salaries,  for  the  next  year,  would  be  $40,000;  while  the  annual  revenue 
derived  from  the  State  fund  was  about  $20,000.  The  levy  called  for  was  adopted 
by  the  Council. 

In  September,  1868,  the  new  building  on  Union  street,  in  the  Sixth  Ward, 
which  had  been  commenced  in  the  spring  of  1867,  was  opened  for  the  reception  of 
pupils.  This  School  House  was  built  from  the  designs,  and  under  the  superintend- 
ence, of  Joseph  Curzon,  and  has  capacity  for  eight  hundred  and  forty  pupils, 
(though  by  crowding  all  its  space  and  seating  the  attic  story,  nearly  one  thousand 
pupils  have  been  admitted.)  Its  cost,  including  enclosure,  furniture  and  out-build- 
ings, was  $44,000. 

In  August,  1868,  sixty-eight  teachers,  and  in  July,  1869,  seventy-six  teachers, 
were  elected  to  positions  in  the  Schools. 

In  April,  1869,  a  new  Board  of  Trustees,  elected  by  the  Common  Council,  or- 
ganized. The  usual  full  levy  was  made  by  the  Board  in  August,  and  the  Council 
was  petitioned  for  a  supplementary  levy  of  eleven  cents,  and  twenty-five  cents  on 
each  poll. 

The  report  to  Council  showed  an  expenditure  for  instruction  of  $44,470  for  the 
year  just  closed,  and  an  estimated  cost  for  teachers'  wages  for  the  year  1869-1870, 
of  $55,000. 

In  October,  1869,  a  lot  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight  by  one  hundred  and  nine- 


170 


HOLLOWA rs  INDIA NAPOLIS. 


ty-eight  feet,  on  the  corner  of  Walnut  and  Delaware  streets,  was  purchased  for  the 
sum  of  $18,000,  and  the  old  Second  Ward  School  House  property  sold  for  $9,000. 

Measures  were  immediately  taken  to  build  a  suitable  School  House  on  the  new 
lot.  Enos  and  Huebner  were  selected  as  architects.  The  erection  of  the  building 
•was  vigorously  prosecuted,  and  it  was  finally  opened  for  the  reception  of  pupils 
during  the  winter  of  1871.  It  is,  like  the  Sixth  District  House,  four  stories  high,  and 
has  capacity  for  728  pupils.  Its  cost,  including  all  fixtures,  improvements,  enclo- 
sures and  furniture,  was  $70,000. 

In  the  Fall  of  1869,  the  "  Eighth  Annual  Eeport  of  the  Public  Schools,  for  the 
year  ending  August  31,  1869,"  a  volume  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  pages,  was 
published.  This  report  contains  much  valuable  information  with  regard  to  the 
schools  and  a  full  record  of  their  movements  during  that  year. 

In  a  report  of  the  School  Board  to  the  Common  Council,  of  June  18,  1870,  we 
find  the  following  compact  exhibit,  to  which  we  add  the  statement  for  1871.  There 
were,  at  the  close  of  the  school  years  ending  with  the  dates  mentioned,  the  follow- 
ing results  : 


Year  Ending 

Pupils  in  the  Schools. 

Annual  Cost  for  Tuition 

Number  of  Teachers. 

June,  1868, 
"      1869, 
"      1870, 
"      1871, 

4,949 
5,160 
5,795 
6,449 

$34,007 
44,470 
54,092 

60,480 

62 
78 
29 
103 

During  the  school  year  commencing  September,  1869,  schools  for  colored  pupils 
were  established  in  the  old  Fourth  and  Sixth  Ward  school-houses.  The  schools 
rapidly  filled  up  with  pupils,  eager  to  learn  ;  and  the  accommodations  becoming  too 
small,  the  capacity  of  the  Fourth  ward  house  was  doubled,  by  the  addition  of  a 
second  story,  during  the  Summer  of  1870.  An  Evening  School  for  colored  youth 
was  also  opened  during  the  Winter  of  1871,  and  was  popular  and  very  fully  attended. 

THE  EVENING  SCHOOLS. — October  31,  1870,  the  Superintendent  reported  a 
total  number  of  three  hundred  and  seventeen  pupils  attending  the  Night  Schools 
for  the  Winter  of  1869-70.  The  average  number  was  one  hundred  and  sixty-one; 
and  the  cost,  $507 — being  $1.59  each  on  the  enrollment,  and  §3.15  on  the  aver- 
age attendance.  The  previous  year  the  cost  was  $2.15  per  capita  on  the  number 
enrolled,  and  $1.10  on  the  average  number. 

From  an  unpublished  report  of  the  School  Board  we  extract  the  following  re- 
marks with  regard  to  the  Evening  Schools  : 

"  Their  instructions  have  been  eminently  useful  to  a  class  of  persons  who  have 
no  other  opportunities  for  obtaining  useful  learning;  but  their  numbers  should  be 
largely  increased  from  that  class  of  untaught  boys  and  girls,  who,  as  at  present  sit- 
uated, are  subjected  to  the  worst  influences  during  the  long  nights  of  Winter.  The 
Evening  Schools  have  been  even  too  respectable :  containing  few  youth  who  are  not 
of  confirmed  steady  and  industrious  habits.  We  earnestly  commend  these  schools 
to  all  good  citizens,  as  worthy  of  their  best  endeavors  to  increase  the  interest  in  them, 
by  frequent  visitations,  and  to  add  to  their  numbers  by  solicitations,  watchfulness, 
and  missionary  effort  among  those  young  persons  who  can  hardly  escape  becoming 
bad  citizens,  unless  rescued  by  the  influences  thrown  around  them  in  these  schools, 
by  exciting  a  thirst  for  knowledge  which  shall  overcome  the  fascinations  of  idleness 
and  vice." 


EDUCATIONAL. 

THE  NEW  GROWTH  OF  THE  CITY  SCHOOLS — Dates  back  only  seven  years,  to 
the  school  year  1863-4,  previous  to  which  time,  as  will  be  seen,  the  schools  were 
feebly  supported,  and  kept  open  as  free  schools  but  a  short  period  in  each  year. 

Seven  years  ago,  there  were  in  the  city  not  less  than  nine  thousand  persons  of 
legal  school  age,  while  there  was  room  in  the  schools  for  less  than  fourteen  hundred. 
Not  a  school-house  in  the  city  was  well  adapted  to  school  purposes,  or  to  the  best 
approved  graded  system  of  conducting  schools.  No  complete  classification  was 
possible.  The  school-houses  were  generally  badly  ventilated,  uncomfortably  seated, 
and  some  of  them  were  situated  on  low  and  unwholesome  sites.  More  than  fifty 
percent,  of  the  children  between  six  and  fifteen  years  had  no  room  in  the  schools. 

At  that  time,  and  previously,  a  modest  tax  of  three  to  fifteen  cents  was  levied, 
which  yielded  scarcely  more  than  enough  revenue  to  cover  current  expenditures, 
without  any  considerable  balance  for  building  purposes.  With  half  the  children 
of  the  city  practically  excluded  from  school  privileges,  and  no  possibility  of  mate- 
rial relief  without  a  much  larger  fund  and  more  and  better  school-houses,  the  bur- 
den and  responsibility  resting  upon  the  school  oflBcers  were  very  great.  The  work 
neglected  or  delayed  during  many  previous  years  had  to  be  crowded  into  a  short 
period,  beside  the  necessities  of  the  hour. 

The  time,  during  the  closing  years  of  an  exhausting  war,  was  not  propitious 
for  heavy  and  unusual  taxation.  But  the  Trustees  did  not  hesitate  to  use,  to  the 
utmost  limit  of  the  law,  all  the  power  in  their  hands  to  remedy  the  evil.  During 
this  period,  additional  permanent  room  and  seats  were  provided  in  new  buildings, 
and  by  rearrangement  of  the  old,  for  thirty-six  hundred  pupils,  at  an  expense  of 
about  §185,000;  yet,  even  now,  the  most  urgent,  pressing  duty  devolved  upon  the 
school  ofiicers  is  to  provide  for  not  less  than  fifteen  hundred  pupils,  who  are  needing 
the  advantages  afforded  by  our  schools,  but  are  prevented  for  want  of  room. 
While  the  schools  have  thus  largely  increased  in  accommodation,  the  need  has  aug- 
mented in  even  greater  ratio  We  know  of  but  two  ways,  in  this  rapidly-growing 
city,  for  preventing  increased  expenditure  on  account  of  the  schools,  from  year  to 
year  :  First,  by  permitting  the  schools  to  become  feeble  and  unpopular,  so  that  the 
children  will  stay  out;  secondly,  by  providing  no  further  accommodations,  so  that 
they  cannot  get  in, 

THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOL  FUNDS. — The  revenue  for  the  support  of  the  Indian- 
apolis Public  Schools  is  derived  from  two  separate  and  distinct  funds. 

First,  the  TUITION  FUND.  This  fund  is  derived,  in  part,  from  the  general 
school  fund  of  the  State,  and  in  part  by  taxation  under  the  provisions  of  the  Com- 
mon School  law  of  the  State,  and  is  apportioned  to  the  different  counties  by  the 
Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  on  the  basis  of  the  number  of  persons  of 
legal  school  age  (six  to  twenty-one  years)  in  each  county.  The  County  Auditors, 
on  the  same  basis,  apportion  the  fund  to  the  different  towns  and  cities  of  each 
county. 

Under  the  provisions  of  the  law  the  counties  which  are  richest  in  children 
receive  the  largest  revenue.  The  effects  of  this  apportionment  on  the  county  of 
Marion  will  be  seen  by  the  following  table : 


172 


HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 


DATE. 

Amount  of  school  rev- 
enue collected  in  Marion 
County. 

Am't    apportioned    to 
Marion  County. 

Net  loss  to  Marion  Co. 
under  the  apportionm't. 

May,  1869....  

$62,693 

$35  662  ) 

October    1869  

12,912 

10  532  £ 

$29  411 

May,  1870  

59,231 

40,7101 

October    1870  

13  739 

10  943  / 

21  317 

Total  for  two  years 

$148,575 

$97,847 

$50,728 

Over  thirty  per  cent,  of  the  School  revenue  collected  in  this  county  under  the 
State  tax,  is  distributed  over  the  State,  and  aids  in  educating  the  youth  of  poorer 
counties.  Perhaps,  however,  there  is  no  basis  of  apportionment  more  equitable 
than  that  of  the  school  population,  provided  the  census  of  persons  of  legal  school 
age  is  fairly  taken  in  all  parts  of  the  State.  There  are  reports  of  irregularities 
and  frauds  in  some  localities  in  the  taking  of  this  census,  which,  if  true,  make  the 
apportionment  most  unjust  and  oppressive ;  and  the  unequal  distribution  is  contrary 
to  the  intent  and  meaning  of  the  law. 

The  Tuition  Fund  in  this  city  is  not  limited  to  the  revenue  derived  from  the 
above  apportionment,  but  is  complemented  by  local  taxation  for  teachers'  salaries. 
This  tax  has  heretofore,  since  1867,  been  levied  by  the  Common  Council ;  but  here- 
after, under  the  provisions  of  the  law  approved  March  3,  1871,  the  authority  for  all 
supplementary  taxation  will  rest  with  the  Board  of  School  Commissioners. 

The  second  source  of  revenue  for  the  City  Schools  is  the  SPECIAL  SCHOOL 
FUND. 

This  Fund  can  be  used  only  for  the  current  expenses  of  the  schools,  including 
school  lots,  buildings,  repairs,  fuel,  and  all  items  of  expenditure  except  teachers' 
salaries.  It  is  derived  from  a  tax  levied  by  the  Trustees  and  placed  upon  the 
county  duplicate,  of  "not  exceeding  25  cents  on  each  $100  of  valuation,  and  50 
cents  on  each  poll."  The  amount  of  revenue  raised  by  this  tax  is  fully  stated  in 
the  general  table  of  statistics  annexed. 

THE  SCHOOL  OFFICERS. — From  1853  until  the  spring  of  1861  the  Trustees  were 
elected  by  the  Common  Council.  From  1861  to  1865,  owing  to  a  change  in  the 
law,  the  Trustees  were  elected  by  the  people,  one  from  each  ward.  In  ]  865  the  law 
was  again  amended,  and  the  Trustees  were  elected  by  the  Council,  until  the  passage 
of  a  law,  approved  March  3,  1871,  providing  fora  Board  of  School  Commissioners, 
to  be  elected  by  the  people,  one  from  each  "School  District."  At  present  the  school 
districts  are  the  nine  wards,  but  the  Commissioners  are  authorized  to  re-district  the 
city  for  school  purposes.  They  are  also  authorized  to  levy  such  additional  taxes  as 
may  be  necessary  for  the  efficiency  of  the  schools,  and  to  provide  suitable  build- 
ings. 

The  annual  report  of  receipts  and  expenditures  of  school  revenue  is  made  by 
the  School  Board  to  the  County  Commissioners,  with  whom  all  accounts  and 
vouchers  are  filed  and  settlement  made  in  March  of  each  year. 

The  Superintendent  of  the  Schools  is  the  acting  executive  officer  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  or  Commissioners.  He  is  entrusted  with  the  general  organization  and 
management  of  the  Schools.  The  School  Board  elect  the  teachers  annually,  but  all 
reports  from  them  with  regard  to  their  duties,  or  the  condition  of  their  schools,  are 
made  to  the  Principals,  or  directly  to  the  Superintendent,  who  is  responsible  for 


EDUCATIONAL. 


173 


the  efficient  grading  and  successful  working  of  the  whole.  The  Superintendent  ia 
assisted  by  two  Principals,  one  for  all  the  schools  north  of  Washington  street,  and 
one  for  the  schools  south  of  that  street.  There  is  an  additional  Principal,  who  has 
the  general  supervision  of  instruction  in  the  Primary  grades.  There  is  also  a 
teacher  for  all  the  schools  in  each  of  the  departments,  of  vocal  music,  drawing  and 
gymnastics.  A  competent  mechanic  is  also  employed,  who  has  general  charge  of 
supplies  and  of  all  minor  repairs  to  the  school  property.  As  the  value  of  the  school 
property  exceeds  $300,000,  it  requires  constant  attention  and  care.  The  judicious 
custody  of  this  valuable  estate,  situated  as  it  is  in  twelve  different  locations  of  the 
city,  keeping  it  in  repair,  fit  for  its  uses,  comfortable  for  the  children,  and  free  from 
unnecessary  wear  and  tear,  form  no  small  part  of  the  duties  of  the  School  Trustees. 

CLASSIFICATION  OF  THE  SCHOOLS. — The  schools  are  divided  into  three  Depart- 
ments— PRIMARY,  INTERMEDIATE,  and  HIGH  SCHOOL.  Each  Department  is  sub- 
divided into  four  Grades,  known,  counting  in  order  from  the  least  advanced,  as 
D,  C,  B  and  A,  Primary;  D,  C,  B  and  A,  Intermediate;  and  the  First^  Second, 
Junior,  and  Senior  years  of  the  High  School. 

The  regular  time  required  to  complete  the  course  of  study  in  each  department 
is  four  years,  and  for  each  grade  one  year.  The  twelve  grades,  from  D,  Primary, 
through  the  Senior  year  of  the  High  Sshool,  will  therefore  occupy  twelve  years.  A 
pupil  commencing  in  the  Primary  at  six  years  of  age,  would,  if  "in  course,"  grad- 
uate from  the  High  School  at  eighteen.  Many  ambitious  and  industrious  pupils  are 
able  to  pass  the  examinations  and  finish  their  grades  in  a  shorter  period.  Some 
rare  pupils  can  pass  two  grades  a  year ;  more  can  accomplish  three  grades  in  two 
years.  But  without  "cramming"  or  overwork,  any  ordinary  child  can  finish  the 
regular  course  within  the  time  prescribed.  "All  the  scholars  in  the  same  grade  in 
the  different  schools  are  pursuing  like  studies  at  the  same  time,  and  all  are  supposed 
to  be  equally  anxious,  at  the  next  annual  or  semi-annual  examination,  to  graduate 
into  the  grade  next  higher." 

THE  METHODS  OF  INSTRUCTION. — If  our  Common  School  System  ia  a  machine, 
it  is  a  self-adjusting  invention,  and  adapts  itself  to  the  wants  of  the  individual  child 
as  well  as  to  the  requirements  of  the  mass  of  children.  The  individuality  of  each 
pupil  is  preserved,  and  yet  all  in  each  grade  work  in  accord  and  harmony  iu  the 
same  general  routine  of  study.  The  key-stone  of  the  system  is  the  idea  that  the 
child  teaches  himself.  He  is  neither  taught,  instructed  nor  „  crammed."  Hig 
teacher  directs  his  attention  from  one  object  of  interest  to  another.  He  is  so  led  that 
he  observes,  thinks  and  comes  to  correct  conclusions  by  the  exercise  of  his  own 
powers.  What  is  learned  is  thoroughly  learned,  because  it  is  thought  out,  not  con- 
ned by  rote.  That  teacher  is  most  successful  whose  power  is  greatest  in  securing 
the  attention  and  directing  the  observation  of  the  pupil. 

THE  KANGE  OF  INSTRUCTION — PRIMARY  DEPARTMENT.— The  First  Year,  the 
pupils  learn  objects  first,  then  words  representing  and  describing  objects.  They 
next  learn  to  read,  and  afterward  to  spell,  both  by  letter  and  sound.  The  slate  ia 
introduced  in  the  beginning,  and  the  pupil  learns  to  print,  to  write  and  to  combine 
numbers,  by  the  use  of  objects.  He  also  learns  the  size,  form  color  and  uses  of 
familiar  objects,  and  the  simple  elements  of  drawing,  both  inventive  and  by  imi- 
tation. Physical  exercises,  of  a  few  minutes  duration,  occurring  at  stated  periods 
during  each  day's  session,  are  commenced  this  year  and  continued  through  the  years 
in  all  the  grades. 


174  BOLLOWArS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  Second  Year. — Reading,  writing  and  spelling  are  continued.  The  words  of 
the  spelling  lesson  are  written  on  the  slate.  Lessons  in  language  are  introduced, 
and  further  progress  is  made  in  numbers  and  drawing. 

The  Third  Year. — The  pupil  now  reads  fluently  and  understandingly,  and 
both  tells  and  writes  readily  in  his  own  language  the  substance  of  his  reading  les- 
sons. Writing,  both  on  slate  and  paper,  is  continued,  and  spelling  is  advanced. 
The  four  fundamental  rules  of  arithmetic,  where  results  do  not  reach  thousands, 
are  studied.  Drawing  is  continued,  and  progressive  lessons  in  language,  geogra- 
phy, plants,  animals,  and  objects. 

The  Fourth  Year. — Reading,  spelling,  definition,  sentence-making,  writing, 
geography,  arithmetic,  oral  lessons  in  language,  natural  history,  inventive  and  map 
drawing,  are  the  leading  exercises  of  the  year. 

INTERMEDIATE  DEPARTMENT. — The  First  Year,  reading  is  further  advanced  in 
the  number  and  difficulty  of  the  objects  read,  and  pupils  answer  questions  based  on 
the  lessons.  They  spell  all  important  words  in  their  reading  lessons  and  several 
hundred  selected  words  and  a  limited  number  of  pages  from  the  spelling  book  in 
use;  and  the  above,  together  with  punctuation,  definition,  penmanship,  arithmetic, 
abbreviations,  geography,  map  drawing,  inventive  drawing,  compositions,  with 
oral  instruction  in  language,  and  classification  of  plants,  are  the  principal  studies 
of  the  year. 

The  Second  Year. — The  same  general  exercises  by  advanced  steps  are  contin- 
nued.  The  intermediate  arithmetic  and  the  first  book  of  algebra  are  completed 
and  reviewed,  and  considerable  advance  made  in  the  second  book  of  geography ; 
further  progress  is  made  in  map  drawing  and  in  composition.  Oral  arithmetic, 
with  progressive  lessons  in  language  and  miscellaneous  topics,  and  drawing  of  leaves, 
plants,  curved  lines,  etc.,  are  continued. 

The  Third  Year. — Reading  is  further  advanced,  and  the  pupil  is  required  to 
explain  the  reading  lessons  and  answer  questions  based  on  them.  Spelling,  punctu- 
ation, definition,  arithmetic  to  per  centage,  and  penmanship  are"  continued,  and  Guy- 
ot's  Common  Geography  is  completed  and  reviewed.  Cutter's  First  Book  of  Physi- 
ology is  completed  and  reviewed.  The  practice  of  English  composition,  from  inci- 
dents, or  elements,  given  by  the  teacher,  continues ;  and  the  important  lessons  in 
language,  which,  by  this  time,  have  become  a  thorough  elementary  analysis  of  the 
English  tongue,  are  made  a  leading  part  of  the  course. 

The  Fourth  Year. — The  fourth  reader  and  the  spelling  book  are  completed. 
Three  hundred  selected  words  are  spelled ;  and  five  hundred  are  defined  and  placed 
correctly  in  English  sentences.  Arithmetic  is  continued  to  mensuration.  A  text- 
book on  grammar,  following  and  illustrating  the  language  lessons,  is  completed 
and  reviewed.  Anderson's  grammar-school  history  of  the  United  States  is  com- 
pleted and  reviewed.  The  analysis  of  the  language,  with  compositions,  is  contin- 
ued. The  pupil,  having  thoroughly  mastered  the  above  course,  is  prepared  for 

THE  HIGH  SCHOOL. —  The  First  Year. — The  range  of  instruction  embraces 
algebra,  Latin,  German,  the  science  of  common  things,  composition,  book  keep- 
ing, reading  and  spelling,  and  advanced  English  grammar,  acd  a  further  analysis 
of  Language. 

The  Second  Year. — Reading  and  spelling,  arithmetic,  Latin  or  German,  the 
the  analysis  of  English  words,  United  States  history,  book-keeping,  natural  his- 
tory, and  geometry,  are  the  most  important  exercises. 

The  Junior  Year. — This,  and  the  sncceeding  year,  the  studies  are  more  or  less 


ED  UCA  TIONA  L. 

elective,  and  embrace  a  course  in  geometry,  trigonometry,  physiology,  Latin,  Ger- 
man, universal  history,  natural  philosophy,  English  grammar,  botany,  and  physical 
geography.  .Rhetorical  exercises  and  composition  are  continued. 

The  Senior  Year. — The  range  of  studies  embraces  physical  geography,  rhetoric, 
chemistry,  Latin,  French,  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  astronomy,  mental 
philosophy,  English  literature,  and  geology,  together  with  regular  exercises  in  com- 
position and  declamation. 

MUSICAL  INSTRUCTION. — In  February,  1866,  instruction  in  vccal  music  was 
introduced  as  one  of  the  regular  branches  of  education,  and  was  placed  under 
the  control  of  Mr.  George  B.  Loomis,  who  has  continued  in  charge  of  this  impor- 
tant department  to  the  present  time.  All  the  pupils  are  taught  to  sing,  and  the 
more  advanced  pupils  to  read  music. 

The  primary  teachers  are  instructed  by  the  music  teacher  in  the  art  of  teaching 
music,  and  by  them  daily  instruction  is  given  to  their  pupils.  In  grades  above 
the  primary  the  work  is  done  exclusively  by  the  teacher  of  music,  who  gives  to 
each  school,  in  most  of  the  buildings,  two  half  hour  lessons  each  week,  and,  owing 
to  the  number  of  rooms,  but  one  in  some  of  the  intermediate  grades.  The  benefits 
of  the  instruction  in  vocal  music  during  the  last  five  years,  are  abundantly  recog- 
nized by  all  who  are  acquainted  with  the  progress  of  the  schools. 

THE  HIGH  SCHOOL. — This  important  school  is  worthy  of  especial  care  by  rea- 
son of  its  eminent  province,  as  the  cap-stone  of  our  school  system.  Five  thou- 
sand pupils  in  the  lower  schools  look  to  this  institution  as  the  summit  of  their 
ambition.  Many  never  reach  it,  but  all  reach  toward  it.  The  present  range  of 
study  will  be  seen  above. 

To  the  minds  of  many  friends  of  education,  its  course  of  instruction  is  incom- 
plete. The  foundation  is  probably  broad  enough,  but  the  structure  built  thereon 
admits  of  further  improvement.  One  of  the  problems  of  our  school  system 
is  whether  we  shall  go  beyond  the  present  limits.  Must  the  city  of  Indianapolis 
forever  say  to  her  young  men  and  young  women,  who  have  succesfully  finished  the 
four  years  course  prescribed  in  the  High  School,  and  who  have  prepared  a  strong 
foundation  for  future  useful  acquirements :  "  This  city  can  be  of  no  further  service 
to  you  in  obtaining  an  education — go  elsewhere?" 

Must  these  pupils,  the  pride  and  future  hope  of  our  city,  be  banished  from 
home  if  they  desire  to  complete  a  more  liberal  course  of  instruction? 

In  addition  to  the  expense  and  other  evils  attending  the  removal  of  our  culti- 
vated pupils  from  home,  and  the  injustice,  in  that  the  rich  can  go  and  the  poor  can 
not,  there  is  an  additional  grievance  of  no  small  moment.  It  is,  that  there  is  no 
course  of  study  in  our  higher  institutions  of  learning  which  fills  out  the  course 
of  our  High  School.  That  course  is  not  designed,  primarily,  to  fit  our  youth  for 
the  regular  classes  of  a  college  course ;  but  to  give  them  the  greatest  amount  of  prac- 
tical and  useful  knowledge,  adapted  to  their  wants  in  any  position  in  life.  As  very 
few  of  its  students  have  opportunity,  or  contemplate  taking  a  regular  college  course 
after  graduating  at  the  High  School,  it  was  deemed  best  to  incorporate  into  the 
studies  of  that  school  several  important  branches  belonging  to  each  collegiate  year. 
Without  this  a  majority  of  the  pupils  would  have  no  opportunity  of  acquiring  a 
knowledge  of  some  of  the  most  useful  and  indispensable  principles  of  science,  ethics 
and  general  literature;  in  the  absence  of  which  the  culture  so  much  desired  in  the 
High  School  would  be  fragmentary  and  incomplete. 


176  aoLLOWArs  INDIANAPOLIS. 

As  the  office  of  the  Common  School  embraces  only  that  elementary  instruction 
which  is  indispensable  to  all ;  so  the  High  School  should  afford  to  the  full  that 
higher  education  in  science,  art  and  literature,  which  gives  special  qualification  for 
the  more  eminent  and  responsible  vocations  in  life. 

During  the  last  two  years  of  the  present  course  the  studies  are  in  part  elective. 
To  these  should  be  added  from  year  to  year,  as  needed,  such  other  elective  studies 
as  may  fit  the  pupil  for  his  special  life  work. 

Indianapolis  should  be  willing,  able  and  proud,  to  prepare  her  pupils  to  enter 
the  sharp  competition  of  business  life,  and  all  the  varied  industries  of  this  busy  age, 
thoroughly  fitted  to  achieve  success  and  distinction.  There  should  be  a  school  of 
science  and  art,  with  a  course  thorough,  rigid,  exhaustive,  and  fully  adequate  to 
the  instruction  of  students  in  the  sciences  and  mechanic  arts. 

The  schools  are  always  open  to  visitors.  They  belong  to  the  public,  and  both 
school  officers  and  teachers  expect  and  desire  citizens  and  strangers  to  look  into 
them  at  any  time.  The  public  are  welcome  at  all  hours ;  and  frequent  visitations 
encourage  both  pupil  and  teacher. 

The  appended  statement  presents  in  tabular  form,  all  the  important  move- 
ments of  the  schools  which  can  be  found  in  the  records  for  eighteen  years,  from 
1853  to  1871.  We  regret  that  for  the  first  ten  years  the  record  is  so  incomplete. 
"We  also  present  an  interesting  exhibit  showing  the  value  of  the  school  property 
and  capacity  of  the  buildings: 

TRUSTEES  AND  SUPERIHTENDENTS  FROM  1853  TO  1871. — From  1853  to  1861, 
the  Board  of  Trustees  was  elected  by  the  Common  Council.  From  1861  to  1864, 
the  Bourd  was  elected  by  the  people,  one  from  each  ward;  and  from  1865  to  1871, 
the  Trustees  were  again  appointed  by  the  Council.  In  June,  1871,  a  B.jard  of 
School  Commissioners,  one  from  each  School  District,  was  elected  by  the  people. 

1853. — Henry  P.  Coburn,  Calvin  Fletcher,  H.  F.  West.  School  Director — The 
City  Clerk. 

1854.— H.  P.  Coburn,  Calvin  Fletcher,  John  B  Dillon,  William  Sheets.  Di- 
rector—The City  Clerk. 

'  1855. — Calvin  Fletcher,  David  Beaty,  James  M.  Ray.  School  Superintendent 
— Silas  T.  Bowen. 

1856. — Calvin  Fletcher,  David  Beaty,  D.  V.  Culley.  Superintendent — George 
B.  btone. 

1857. — D.  V.  Culley,  N.  B.  Taylor,  John  Love.  Superintendent — George  B. 
Stone. 

1858-1859. — D.V.  Culley,  John  Love,  David  Beaty.     Director — James  Greene. 

1860. — Caleb  B.  Smith,  Lawrence  M.  Vance,  Cyrus  C.  Hines.  Director — 
James  Greene. 

1861-1862. — Oscar  Kendrick,  D.  V.  Culley,  James  Greene,  Thomas  B.  Elliott, 
James  Sulgrove,  Lewis  W.  Hasselman,  Richard  O'Neal.  Director — Geo.  W.  Hoss. 

1863-1864.— James  H.  Beall,  D.  V.  Culley,  I.  H.  Roll,  Thomas  B.  Elliott, 
Lucien  Barbour,  James  Sulgrove,  Alexander  Metzger,  Charles  Coulon,  Andrew 
May,  Herman  Lieber.  Superintendent — A.  C.  Shortridge. 

1865-1866-1867-1868.— Thomas  B.  Elliott,  William  H.  L.  Noble,  Clemens 
Vonnegut.  Superintendent — A.  C.  Shortridge. 

1869-1870.— William  H.  L.  Noble,  James  C.  Yohn,  John  R.  Elder.  Superin- 
tendent— A.  C.  Shortridge. 


EDUCATIONAL.  ^77 

THE  SCHOOL  PROPERTY. — The  estimated  value  of  improvements  includes  build- 
ings, fences  and  furniture. 

First  District  School  House — Corner  of  Vermont  and  New  Jersey  streets.  Ca- 
pacity for  232  pupils;  value  of  lot  and  improvements,  $13,500. 

Second  District  School  House — Corner  of  Delaware  and  Walnut  streets.  Ca- 
pacity for  728  pupils;  value  of  lot  and  improvements,  $70,000. 

Third  District  School  House — New  York  street,  between  Illinois  and  Tennes- 
see. Capacity  for  296  pupils;  value  of  lot  and  improvements,  $13,000. 

Fourth  District  School  House — Market  street,  between   West  and  California. 

t 

Capacity  for  220  pupils;  value  of  lot  and  improvements,  $10,500. 

Fourth  District  New  School  House — Corner  of  Michigan  and  Blackford  streets. 
Capacity  for  592  pupils ;  value  of  lot  and  improvements,  $38,000. 

Fifth  District  School  House — Maryland  street,  between  Mississippi  and  the 
Canal.  Capacity  for  280  pupils;  value  of  lot  and  improvements,  $13,000. 

Fifth  District  New  School  House  ("Colony" — Root  street,  between  West  and 
White  River.  Capacity  for  100  pupils;  value  of  lot  and  improvements,  $5,500. 

Sixth  District  School  House — Pennsylvania  street,  between  South  and  Merrill. 
Capacity  for  110  pupils;  value  of  lot  and  improvements,  $10,000. 

Sixth  District  New  School  House — Union  street,  between  Merrill  and  McCarty. 
Capacity  for  848  pupils;  value  of  lot  and  improvements,  $51,500. 

Seventh  District  School  House — East  street,  north  of  Louisiana.  Capacity  for 
112  pupils;  value  of  lot  and  improvements,  $7,500. 

Eighth  District  School  House — Virginia  avenue,  corner  of  Huron  street.  Ca- 
pacity for  396  pupils;  value  of  lot  and  improvements,  $15,500. 

Ninth  District  New  School  House — Corner  of  Michigan  and  Davidson  streets. 
Capacity  for  550  pupils ;  value  of  lot  and  improvements,  $38,000. 

High  School  Building — Corner  of  Circle  and  Market  streets.  Capacity  for  270 
pupils;  value  of  property,  $25,000. 

Value   of  school  property  recently  added  to  the  city,  $25,000. 

Total  valuation,  $336,000.     Total  capacity  of  buildings,  4,734  pupils. 


12 


178 


BOLLOWATS   INDIANAPOLIS. 


<'The  Census  from  1854  to  1865,  included  all 
white  persons  between  five  and  twenty-one 
years  ;  from  18GG  to  1871,  all  between  tho  ages  of 
six  and  twenty-one;  and  sinee  1870,  all  white 
and  colored  persons  between  the  last  meutiouud 
ages. 

t  City  Clerk,  acting  School  Director. 
1  Salaries  are  based  on  the  rate  per  annum  for 
a  full  School  year  of  forty  weeks, 
t  Superintendent  was  also  Principal  of  the 
High  School. 
|  High  School  suspended  uqtil  18f4. 
ft  No  free  Schools—  School  Mouses  rented. 
2  From  18S8  to  1863,  tbe  Executive  Officer  of 
the  Board  was  called  the  "Director."-  Hia 
pay  was  $250  during  vacation  and  $600  during 
term  time. 

li  ||  This  falling  off  in  the  Census  is  asciibed  to 
the  minimum  age  being  increased  by  one  year 
(six  and  twenty-one  years,)  and  in  part  to 
incomplete  returns. 

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EDUCATIONAL*     . 

NORTHWESTERN  CHRISTIAN  UNIVERSITY. 

The  site  of  this  institution  is  in  the  northeastern  suburb  of  the  city,  near  the 
terminus  of  the  Street  Railway,  and  about  two  miles  from  the  Circle  Park.  It  is 
conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  Christian  denomination. 

The  charter  of  the  University  was  granted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  Indi- 
ana in  January,  1850,  and  provides  for  the  formation  of  a  joint  stock  company, 
with  a  capital  of  not  less  than  $95,000,  nor  more  than  $500,000 ;  to  be  divided  into 
shares  of  $100  each  ;  two-thirds  of  the  amount  of  the  stock  to  be  set  apart  lor  an 
endowment  fund.  Under  this  charter  the  requisite  amount  of  stock  was  subscribed  ; 
and  in  July,  1852,  the  company  was  organized  by  the  election  of  the  first  Board  of 
Directors. 

The  institution  was  opened  on  the  1st  of  November,  1855 ;  and  has  had  a  steady, 
sure  growth. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  company  now  amount?  to  about  $170,000;  of  which, 
in  accordance  with  the  charter,  two-thirds  is  in  the  endowment  fund,  and  is  advan- 
tageously invested,  so  as  to  sustain  the  institution. 

The  collegiate  year  beg'ns  about  the  middle  of  September,  and  closes  about  the 
last  of  June;  being  divided  into  three  terms  of  about  thirteen  weeks  each. 

The  system  of  instruction  consists  of  a  Collegiate  Course  of  four  years ;  a 
Preparatory  Course  of  two  years,  in  which  students  are  prepared  for  the  collegiate 
course;  and  a  Primary  Department,  called  the  "Academic  Course,"  of  which  Mrs. 
E.  J.  Price  is  Principal. 

The  regular  Course  is  substantially  that  of  the  o'dest  and  most  efficient  Col- 
leges in  the  East. 

The  Law  Department  was  recently  organized,  and  its  first  term  commenced 
the  16th  of  January,  1871.  This  Department  has  three  chairs,  filled  by  Hon.  Byron 
K.  Elliott,  Charles  P.  Jacobs,  Esq.,  and  Hon.  Charles  H.  Test. 

The  institution  also  has  a  Commercial  Department,  to  qualify  students  for  busi- 
ness pursuits;  of  which  C.  E.  Hollenbeck,  Esq.,  an  accomplished  teacher  in  this 
important  branch  of  instruction,  is  Principal. 

The  Musical  Department,  in  which  students  are  taught  the  principles  of  vocal 
and  instrumental  music,  is  under  the  charge  of  Prof.  H.  J.  Schonacker,  a  gentle- 
man of  superior  qualifications  as  a  musical  instructor. 

The  number  of  students  in  attendance  during  the  present  term  is  about  three 
hundred. 

One   of   the  first  colleges  in   the    West   to  abandon   the  old-time   policy   of" 
excluding  female  students  from  collegiate  advantages  was  the  Northwestern  Chris- 
tian   University.     During  the  year  just  closing  about  sixty   female  students  have 
attended  the  University;  and  all  its  students  enjoy  equal  rights,  privileges  and 
opportunities,  irrespective  of  sex. 

There  are  four  Societies,  composed  of  members  of  the  institution,  each  having 
handsome  halls:  the  Mathesian,  Pythonian,  Athenian  (the  members  of  which  are 
female  students,)  and  the  Philocurian.  Of  these  the  first  three  are  literary,  and 
the  last  is  religious. 

The  edifice,  (of  which  a  large  portion  of  the  original  design  is  yet  unbuilt,) 
is  in  the  Gothic  style  of  architecture.  Its  principal  material  is  brick,  handsomely 
trimmed  with  dressed  stone,  and  the  whole  building  is  at  once  tasteful  and 
commodious.  It  is  proposed  to  commence  the  erection  of  the  remaining  portions 


HOLLOWAT8  INDIANAPOLIS. 

of  the  building,  and  so  complete  the  original  design,  during  the  present  year ; 
which  will  make  it  perhaps  the  largest  and  most  elegant  college  edifice  in  the 
West.  The  completed  building  will  have  the  following  dimensions:  Length, 
three  hundred  and  eighty  feet;  greatest  depth,  one  hundred  and  forty  feet;  height, 
four  stories.  The  site  of  the  institution  embraces  an  area  of  twenty-five  acres,  the 
whole  forming  a  large  and  beautiful  grove,  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the 
city,  and  valued  at  $100,000.  Stately  forest  trees  adorn  the  site  and  assist  in  mak- 
ing the  institution  pleasant  and  attractive — a  persnasive  and  congenial  spot  to  the 
student  of  even  ordinary  appreciation  of  beautiful  surroundings.  The  value  of 
the  present  building  is  about  $75,000;  that  of  the  completed  buildings  will  be 
more  than  double  this  amount. 

Faculty. — Rev.  W.  F.  Black,  A.  M.,  President,  and  Professor  of  Hebrew  and 
Syriac;  W.  M.  Thrasher,  A.  M.,  Vice  President,  and  Professor  of  Mathematics; 
S.  K.  Hoshour,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  the  Greek  Language  and  Literature,  and  of  Bib- 
lical Literature;  A.  Fairhuret,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Natural  Science;  H.  W. 
Wiley,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  the  Latin  Language  and  Literature ;  Miss  Cath- 
arine Merrill,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  English  Literature,  (Demia  Butler  chair;)  M. 
Manny,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  French  ;  Professor  H.  J.  Schonacker,  Principal  of  the 
Musical  Department;  Professor  C.  E.  Hollenbeck,  Principal  of  the  Commercial 
Department;  J.  W.  Lowber,  A.  B.,  Tutor  in  Greek;  D.  L.  Thomas,  A.  B  ,  Tutor 
in  Latin  ;  E.  T.  Lane,  A.  B.,  Tutor  in  Latin  ;  J.  Q  Thomas,  A.  B.,  Tutor  in  Math- 
ematics; J.  H.  Roberts,  A.  B.,  Tutor  in  English  Literature;  Mrs.  E.  J.  Price, 
Principal  of  the  Academic  Department.  Law  Department, — Hon.  Charles  H.  Test, 
•  J-udge  Byron  K.  Elliott,  and  Charles  P.  Jacobs,  Esq.,  Professors. 

INDIANAPOLIS    YOUNG    LADIES'    INSTITUTE. 

This  Institution  is  Advantageously  located,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Michigan  streets 

The  Institute  was  founded,  and  is  conducted,  by  the  Baptist  denomination.  It 
was  founded  in  1858,  in  the  belief  that  there  was  a  need  for  such  an  institution 
under  the  auspices  of  that  denomination  in  this  State;  and  that  Indianapolis  pos- 
sessed, in  its  extent  and  most  accessible  location,  in  its  intellectual  and  social 
aspects,  and  in  its  healthfulness,  the  best  advantages  for  such  an  institition.  The 
success  of  the  enterprise  has  justified  this  belief  and  action  of  its  founders. 

To  establish  the  Institute  a  joint  stock  company,  called  the  "  Indianapolis  Edu- 
cational Association,"  was  formed  in  1858,  who  secured  the  above  site.  The  Asso- 
ciation being  as  yet  without  financial  standing,  it  was  found  necessary  that  per- 
sonal credit  be  pledged  for  the  fulfillment  of  the  contracts  entered  into;  and  Revs. 
J.  B.  Simmons  and  M.  G.  Clarke,  with  Messrs.  J.  R.  Osgood  and  James  Turner,  of 
this  city,  became  personally  responsible  for  the  payment  of  $16,000,  the  purchase 
money,  ten  years  from  that  time,  with  annual  interest  until  maturity.  The  work 
of  building  up  the  Institute  was  at  once  vigorously  begun.  The  Association  gen- 
erously resolved  that  the  proceeds  of  the  school,  if  any,  should  be  devoted,  after 
the  school  was  placed  on  a  firm  foundation,  to  the  gratuitous  education  of  the 
daughters  of  indigent  clergymen.  The  stockholders  retained  for  themselves  only 
the  right  to  determine  the  general  management  of  the  Institute,  without  thought 
>of  personal  gain.  . 

Rev.   Gibbon  Williams,  a  man  of  large  experience  and  proven  worth,   wag 


EDUCATIONAL. 

selected  as  the  General  Superintendent;  and  his  daughter,  Miss  Ernily  Williams, 
an  accomplished  educator,  was  the  first  Principal  of  the  school.  Under  their 
direction,  with  the  aid  of  very  valuable  assistants,  the  school  advanced,  with  vary- 
ing fortunes,  for  four  years.  But  its  legitimate  income  was  small.  The  money 
paid  by  subscribers  was  soon  exhausted  by  accruing  interest  and  necessary  im- 
provements; and  the  work  moved  slowly,  as  such  enterprises,  however  worthy; 
are  apt  to  do. 

In  the  year  1862,  Rev.  C.  W.  Hewes,  a  graduate  of  Brown  University,  and  a 
gentleman  of  nearly  twenty  years  experience  in  public  life,  became  virtually  the 
proprietor  of  the  school.  Under  the  management  of  Professor  Hewes,  the  Insti- 
tute prospered  to  such  a  degree  that  its  accommodations  soon  became  inadequate; 
and  it  was  found  necessary  to  enlarge  the  building,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $8,000. 

Soon  afterward  the  site  was  enlarged,  at  an  additional  cost  of  $5,000.  In  1866, 
the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  institution  demanded  a  further  enlargement  of 
the  building,  at  a  cost  of  $14,000:  making  the  total  cost  of  the  buildings  and  site 
to  that  date,  $53,000. 

The  friends  of  the  Institute  take  pleasure  in  knowing  that  all  this  expendi- 
ture has  been  eventually  a  profitable  investment;  for,  leaving  out  of  consideration 
the  benefits  of  the  enterprise  as  an  instrument  of  education,  the  property  would, 
to-day,  bring  an  increase  over  what  it  has  cost. 

On  a  beautiful  site  of  one  and  one-fourth  acres,  in  one  of  the  most  valuable 
localities  in  the  city,  the  Association  now  have  an  institution  of  learning  creditable 
to  themselves  and  to  the  city. 

More  than  $40,000  have  been  paid  on  the  property;  and  the  Association 
expect  soon  to  extinguish  the  remainder  of  the  debt. 

Under  the  administration  of  Professor  Hewes  the  Institute  attained  a  high 
state  of  efficiency  and  popularity.  It  has  graduated  many  accomplished  young 
ladies,  who  furnish  in  their  own  attainments  convincing  evidences  of  the  excel- 
lence of  the  Institution. 

The  Trustees,  not  content  with  the  success  already  secured,  are  laboring  to 
increase  the  advantages  and  enhance  the  popularity  of  the  Institute.  They  pro- 
pose that  it  shall  no  longer  be  conducted  as  a  private  enterprise  in  any  sense ;  feel- 
ing that  it  will  be  more  largely  useful  when  administered  solely  in  the  interest  of 
the  great  cause  of  education. 

In  the  belief  that  educated  ladies  are  better  adapted  to  the  duties  of  preceptors 
in  female  colleges,  the  Trustees  engaged  a  corps  of  competent  lady  instructors ;  and 
now  feel  more  fully  justified  than  ever  before  in  inviting  patronage  of  their  insti- 
tution, as  one  capable  of  satisfying  in  an  eminent  degree  the  requirements  of  a 
first  class  Female  College. 

In  the  language  of  Professor  J.  R.  Boise,  of  the  University  of  Chicago,  the  condi- 
tions of  a  superior  institute,  "  which  shall  be  as  nearly  like  a  well-regulated  home 
as  possible;  where  my  daughter,  above  all,  shall  be  safe;  where  she  will  be  kindly 
treated ;  where  only  kind  words  are  heard,  and  where  courteous  manners,  without 
affectation,  prevail;  where  the  instruction  in  all  branches  of  learning  is  thorough; 
and  where  Christian  influences  are  constant  and  all-pervading,  are  very  fully  real- 
ized in  the  Young  Ladies'  Institute  of  Indianapolis." 

The  Institute  is  at  present  under  the  control  of  the  following 
Board  of  Trustees — Rev.  Henry  Day,  President;  Samuel  C.  Hanna,  Secretary  ; 
H.  Knippenberg,  Treasurer;  E.  C.  Atkins,  Esq.;  Rev.  W.  Elgin;  E.  J.    Foster, 


182  HOLLOW  A  TB  INDIANAPOLIS. 

Esq.;  John  A.  Ferguson,  Esq.;  Dr.  H.  C.  Martin ;  Aaron  McCrea,  Esq.;  J.  R.  Os- 
good,  Eeq.;  Wm.  C.  Smock,  Esq.     And  the  following 

Board  of  Instruction — Kev.  L.  Hayden,  D.  D.,  Superintendent;  Mrs.  M.  J.  P. 
Hayden,  Principal;  Miss  C.  F.  Barney,  Miss  Rebecca  I.  Thompson,  Miss  H.  M. 
Williams.  Miss  Esther  Boise,  Teacher  of  Ancient  and  Modern  Languages;  Mrs. 
Sarah  S.  Starling,  Teacher  of  Painting,  etc.;  Miss  Leonora  Cole,  Teacher  of  Music; 
Mis3  L.  D.  Hawley,  Matron. 

ROMAN   CATHOLIC   SCHOOLS. 

St.  John's  Academy  for  Girls,  under  the  charge  of  the  Sisters  of  Providence  of 
the  Catholic  Church,  located  at  the  corner  of  Tennessee  and  Georgia  streets,  was 
established  in  1859.  It  is  a  graded  school,  conducted  by  Sister  Ann  Cecelia  Buell, 
as  Superior,  and  ten  teachers.  The  course  is  comprehensive,  including  the  usual 
English  studies,  practical  mathematics,  the  various  branches  of  natural  science, 
French  and  German,  music,  drawing,  etc.  The  year  is  divided  into  two  terms; 
beginning  on  the  first  Monday  irt  September,  and  ending  with  the  monih  of  June. 
The  school  has  now  about  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  pupils. 

St.  John's  School  for  Boys,  is  conducted  by  the  Brothers  of  the  Sacred  Heart; 
with  Brother  Aloysius,  as  Superior,  assisted  by  five  teachers.  The  average  attend- 
ance is  about  two  hundred. 

Saint   Mary's   School  for  Boys  has  about  one  hundred  pupils. 

Saint  Mary's  Academy  for  Girls,  is  under  the  charge  of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Francis  ; 
has  seven  teachers  and  about  two  hundred  pupils. 

St.  Patrick's  School  for  Boys,  under  the  care  of  the  Brothers  of  the  Sacred  Heart, 
has  four  teachers  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  pupils. 

Connected  wkn  St.  Patrick's  parish  is,  also,  the  Novitiate  of  the  Brothers  of  the 
Sacred  Heart,  a  training  school  for  teachers,  open  only  to  members  of  the  Brother- 
hood; having  three  preceptors  and  twenty  students  at  this  time. 

St.  Patrick's  School  for  Girls,  is  conducted  by  Mrs.  L.  A.  Kealing,  and  has 
about  sixty  pupils. 

GERMAN   PROTESTANT    PAROCHIAL   SCHOOLS. 

Zion's  church,  one  hundred  and  eighty  pupils;  St.  Paul's  (German  Evangelical,) 
two  hundred  and  forty  pupils;  Second  German  Reformed,  one  hundred  pupils. 

GERMAN   ENGLISH   SCHOOLS. 

A  very  extensive  institution  of  this  description  is  located  at  122,  East  Mary- 
land street,  and  is  now  in  its  twelfth  year.  It  was  founded,  and  is  supported,  by 
German  citizens  of  Indianapolis;  and  its  object  as  stated  by  the  Principal  is,  that 
the  children  of  German  citizens  may  have  the  requisite  facilities  for  instruction  in 
the  German  as  well  as  the  English  language.  Its  corps  of  instructors  consists  of 
one  Principal  and  six  assistant  teachers.  The  principal  is  Professor  George  A. 
Schmidt.  The  present  number  of  pupils  is  about  three  hundred.  The  school  is 
sustained  by  the  subscriptions  of  about  one  hundred  German  citizens,  constituting 
an  Association,  and  by  the  tuition  fees.  The  school  property  of  the  Association 
is  worth  about  $25,000. 

Professor  Mueller  is  also  proprietor  of  a  large  and  flourishing  German-English 
school,  located  on  East  Ohio  street. 


EDUCATIONAL. 
BUSINESS   COLLEGES. 

The  Indianapolis  Practical  Business,  Military,  and  Lecture  College — Is  the  title 
of  an  institution  consolidated  with  the  Bryant  $  Stratton  Business  College  a  few 
months  ago,  and  organized  by  an  association  of  prominent  citizens  of  this  city.  It 
is  in  successful  operation,  and,  when  it  has  fully  occupied  its  proposed  field  of 
instruction,  as  it  gives  good  promise  of  doing,  will  be  a  most  important  institution. 
Its  general  plan  comprehends  "a  college  of  specialties,  or  a  number  of  special 
institutions  under  one  management;  a  large  business  school,  and  shortly  a  scientific 
school,  a  law  school,  and  perhaps  other  special  schools.  The  intention  is  to  extend 
the  field  of  the  business  college  so  as  to  give  instruction  in  everything  relating  to 
the  business  transactions  which  may  arise  in  connection  with  any  pursuit  of  life, 
all  kinds  of  business  record*,  forms,  calculations,  correspondence,  and  the  customs 
and  laws  of  business;  also  instruction  in  all  the  purely  practical  branches,  phys- 
ical training  by  military  drill,  and  a  system  of  daily  lectures." 

The  Board  of  Directors  is  constituted  as  follows: — Dr.  B.  T.  Brown,  William 
C.  Tarkington,  Esq  ,  Col!  James  P.  Harper,  Calvin  A.  Elliott,  Esq.,  Alexander  L. 
Southard,  John  Fishback,  Esq.,  Austin  H.  Brown,  Esq.,  Hon  Byron  K.  Elliott, 
Hon.  Daniel  Macauley. 

The  officers  are: — Dr.  K.  T.  Brown,  President;  Calvin  A.  Elliott,  Esq.,  Vice 
President;  Alexander  L.  Southard,  Secretary  and  General  Superintendent  of  Col- 
lege; Austin  H.  Brown,  Esq.,  Treasurer. 

Location,  corner  of  Meridian  and  Maryland  streets. 

Professor  C.  Koerner  &  Co.  are  the  conductors  of  a  Business  College,  located  in 
Glenn's. block. 


BENEVOLENT    INSTITUTIONS    AND 
SOCIETIES. 

Brief  mention  has  already  been  made,  in  the  general  historical  portion  of  this 
volume,  of  the  various  Benevolent  Institutions  located  in  or  near  this  city.  The 
ensuing  pages  will  now  give  a  more  particular  description  of  these^ 

THE   INDIANA   HOSPITAL   FOB  THE   INSANE, 

One  of  the  most  efficient  and  successfully  administered  institutions  of  the  kind 
in  the  country,  is  beautifully  located  two  and  a  half  miles  west  of  the  city,  on  the 
continuation  of  "Washington  street.  It  was  founded  by  an  act  of  the  General  Assem- 
of  the  State  in  1847. 

The  administration  of  the  institution  is  under  the  general  direction  and  super- 
vision of  a  Board  of  Commissioners,  now  composed  of  three  gentlemen,  namely : 
Dr.  P.  H.  Jameson,  of  Indianapolis,  President;  and  Dr.  James  H.  Woodburn,  and 
John  M.  Caldwell,  Esq.,  of  Indianapolis.  The  other  principal  officers  consist  of  a 
Superintendent,  two  Physicians,  a  Steward  and  a  Matron. 

The  institution  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  patients  in  1848. 

The  main  building  consists  of  a  central  building  and  two  wings.  The  latter 
extend  from  each  end  of  the  center  structure  laterally  and  backward,  giving  to  the 
front  a  broken,  receding  range.  The  entire  linear  extent  of  the  edifice  is  624  feet. 
The  three  principal  parts  of  the  building,  as  it  now  stands,  were  erected  at  as  many 
different  periods:  the  center,  in  1847-8;  the  south  wing  in  1853-6;  and  the  north 
in  1866-9.  Each  addition  has  had  the  effect  to  somewhat  impair  the  architectural 
symmetry  and  unity  of  the  original  design. 

The  structure  is  built  of  brick,  trimmed  with  dressed  stone.  Its  architecture, 
though  it  cannot  strictly  be  classed  with  any  distinct  order,  may  appropriately  be 
termed  a  modification  of  the  Plain  Doric.  The  Doric  is  dimly  shown  in  the  square 
columnar  projections  on  the  corners  and  faces  of  the  walls,  rising  from  the  base- 
ment story  to  the  entablature,  and  surmounted  by  capitals  in  imitation  of  that 
order. 

The  architrave,  frieze,  and  cornice  more  nearly  correspond  with  the  Doric  than 
any  other  style.  All  the  principal  elevations,  though  modified  in  the  details  of  the 
wings,  have  the  same  general  features.  The  cornice  elevation  of  the  center  and  of 
the  first  principal  sections,  is  57  feet.  The  center  building  is  surmounted  by  an 
octagonal  belvidere  17  feet  in  diameter;  and  in  height  36  feet  from  the  superior 
line  of  the  roof.  The  elevation  to  the  top  of  the  balustrade  on  the  belvidere,  is 
103  feet. 

The  center  building  has  five  stories,  inclusive  of  basement  and  a  superior  or  half 
story.  The  basement  is  used  for  store  rooms,  etc.;  the  second  story  for  offices, 
public  parlor,  dispensary,  officers'  dining  room,  etc.;  the  third  and  fourth  stories 
for  private  rooms  for  the  Superintendent  and  other  officers;  and  the  fifth  story 
is  occupied  by  the  female  employes. 

The  wings  are  three  and  four  stories  in  height,  and  are  entirely  occupied  by 


BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS.  1Q5 

wards  for  the  patients.  The  entire  capacity  of  the  wards  is  about  five  hundred 
patients. 

Forty-four  feet  in  the  rear  of  the  center  building,  and  connected  with  it  by  a 
wooden  corridor  three  stories  in  height,  is  the  chapel  building,  50x60  feet,  the  first 
floor  of  which  contains  the  general  kitchen,  bakery,  dining  rooms  for  the  employes, 
etc.;  the  second,  the  steward's  office,  sewing  room,  rooms  for  employes,  etc.;  and 
the  third  floor  is  entirely  occupied  by  the  chapel,  having  seating  accommodations 
for  three  hundred  persons. 

Immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  chapel  building  is  the  engine  building,  60x50 
feet ;  the  first  floor  of  which  contains  the  requisite  boilers  for  heating  all  of  the 
buildings  throughout,  and  the  pumps  of  the  water-works — connected  with  which 
are  six  fire-plugs  to  furnish  hose  attachments  in  case  of  a  fire  breaking  out.  The 
second  floor  is  occupied  by  the  laundry,  and  the  third  by  rooms  for  the  male  em- 
ployes. 

Additional  to  the  foregoing  buildings,  is  a  carpenter  shop,  30x50  feet,  and  two 
stories  in  height,  containing  the  ordinary  machinery,  etc. 

The  north  wing  was  constructed  under  the  direction  of  the  present  Board  of 
Commissioners,  and  is  superior  in  its  style,  workmanship  and  adaptation  to  its 
uses 

The  south  wing  and  portions  of  the  center  would  bear  some  remodeling  and 
improvements. 

The  entire  building  is  lighted  by  gas.  It  has  complete  water  works,  of  the  Holly 
system,  for  supplying  water  throughout  the  institution,  and  for  the  extinguishment 
of  fires,  should  occasion  arise ;  also,  an  approved  apparatus  for  forced  upward  ven- 
tilation. 

The  grounds  of  the  institution  consist  of  160  acres — the  buildings  being  situated 
near  the  center,  on  a  slight  eminence.  Of  this  area,  about  40  acres  are  set  apart  for 
the  immediate  grounds  surrounding  the  buildings;  they  are  liberally  adorned  with 
shade  trees,  shrubbery,  etc.;  and  are  suitably  laid  out  with  walks,  drives,  etc. 
Twenty  acres  are  contained  in  a  forest  grove;  and  the  remainder  is  used  for  agri- 
cultural purposes,  being  tilled  by  the  patients. 

The  original  cost  of  these  grounds  was  but  $4,000.  They  are  now  worth,  at  a 
low  estimate,  $50,000. 

Under  its  managment  for  several  years  past,  the  institution  has  attained  a 
superior  degree  of  efficiency  and  usefulness — "worthy  alike  of  the  wealth,  intelli- 
gence and  humanity  of  its  patrons,  the  people  of  the  State." 

During  the  year  ending  October  31st,  1870,  792  patients  were  under  treatment — 
a  much  larger  number  than  during  any  previous  year;  and  indicative,  not  so  much 
of  an  unusual  increase  in  insanity,  as  of  the  increased  capacity  of  the  institution. 
During  the  same  time,  317  patients  were  discharged ;  of  whom  187  were  restored;  19 
improved ;  and  59  not  improved.  There  were  51  deaths  during  the  year. 

The  increasing  demands  on  the  institution  necessitate  the  enlargement  of  the 
south  wing  at  an  early  day,  at  an  estimated  cost  of  $50,000. 

The  expenditures  during  the  past  year  were  $122,745.96. 

During  the  past  22  years,  4,431  patients  have  been  treated  in  the  institution; 
in  regard  of  whom  the  following  statistics  are  of  interest: 

Former  Occupation — Males. — Bakers,  6;  Bankers,  2;  Brewers,  2;  Brickmakers, 
5;  Blacksmiths,  39 ;  Butchers,  7 ;  Clerks,  49 ;  Carpenters,  56 ;  Coopers,  21 ;  Clergy- 
men, 18;  Contractor,  1;  Cabinet  makers,  10;  Cigar  makers,  3;  Confectioner,  1; 


HOLLOWAT8  INDIANAPOLIS. 

Chair  makers,  4;  County  officers,  5;  Daguerrean  artiste,  3;  Dentists,  3;  Druggist, 
1;  Editors,  2;  Engineers,  4;  Farmers,  1.291;  Fullers,  5;  Foundrymen,  4;  Gun- 
smiths, 8;  Hatters.  3;  Hotel  keepers,  3;  Hunters,  2;  Harness  makers,  4;  Labor- 
ers, 226;  Lawyers,  9;  Locksmiths,  2;  Mechanics,  9;  Merchants,  61;  Miners,  4; 
Musicians,  2;  Machinists,  7;  Manufacturers,  34; ,  Millers,  19;  MiHwrights,  2;  No 
occupation,  64;  Physicians,  17;  Plasterers,  22;  Pump  makers,  3;  Printer?,  9; 
Painters,  15;  Peddlers,  6;  Potters,  3;  Railroad  men,  7;  Shoemakers,  30;  Sinter, 
1;  Stone  masons,  3;  Saloon  keepers,  3;  Steamboatmen,  2;  Saddlers,  8;  Soldiers, 
36;  Students,  16;  Tanners,  3;  Telegrapher,  1;  Teachers,  28;  Tailors,  24;  Tinners, 
6;  Traders,  9;  Tragedian,!;  Upholsterers,  1;  Wagon  makers,  15;  Weavers,  7; 
Watchmakers,  5;  Watchmen,  3. 

Females — Actress,  1;  Housework,  1,982;  Mantua  maker,  16;  No  occupatioe, 
52;  Paper  makers,  2;  School  girls,  33 ;  Tailoresses,  29;  Teachers,  41. 

Ages  of  Patients  when,  Admitted — Under  20  years,  396;  from  20  to  25  years, 
€88 ;  from  25  to  30  years,  723  ;  from  30  to  35  years,  624 ;  from  35  to  40  years,  558  ; 
from  40  to  45  years,  423;  from  45  to  50  years,  404;  from  50  to  55  years,  277;  from 
55  to  60  years,  144;  from  60  to  65  years,  106;  from  65  to  70  years,  50;  from  70, 
to  75  years,  32;  from  80  to  85  years,  4;  from  85  to  90  years,  2. 

The  present  officers  are:  President  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners,  Dr.  P.  H. 
Jameson;  Commissioners,  John  M.  Caldwell  and  Dr.  James  H.  Woodburn;  Super- 
intendent, Dr.  Orpheus  Evarts;  Physicians,  Drs.  W.  W.  Hester  and  W.  J.  Elstun; 
Steward,  Charles  H.  Test ;  Matron,  Mrs.  Mary  Evarts.  The  officers  and  employes 
number  nearly  one  hundred. 

The  succession  of  Superintendents  has  been  as  follows:  Dr.  John  Evans,  Dr. 
Patterson,  Dr.  James  S.  Athou,  Dr.  James  EL  Woodburn,  Dr.  Wilson  Lock- 
hart,  Dr.  Orpheus  Evarts,  the  present  Superintendent. 

The  whole  cost  of  the  buildings  and  grounds  has  been  about  $375,000 — a  much 
less  sum  than  their  real  value  to-day.  It  would  require  $600,000,  perhaps,  to  pur- 
chase the  site  and  erect  and  furnish  such  a  hospital,  if  required  at  this  time. 

THK    INDIANA   INSTITUTE    FOR   THE   EDUCATION    OF   THE   BLIND, 

Is  situated  very  nearly  in  the  center  of  the  most  beautiful  section  of  the  city. 
Its  site  occupies  the  space  of  two  city  blocks,  an  area  of  eight  acres;  bounded  on 
the  south  by  North  street;  on  the  west,  by  Meridian;  on  the  north,  by  "Walnut; 
on  tie  east  by  Pennsylvania. 

The  Institute  was  founded  by  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly,  in  1847,  and 
was  first  opened,  in  a  rented  building,  on  the  first  of  October  of  that  year.  The 
permanent  buildings  were  completed,  and  first  occupied,  in  the  month  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1853.  The  original  coet  of  buildings  and  grounds,  was  $110,000;  their  pres- 
ent valuation  is  $300,000.  The  principal  edifice  is  composed  of  a  center  building, 
having  a  front  of  ninety  feet,  and  a  depth  of  sixty-one  feet,  and  is  five  stories  in 
height;  together  with  two  four  story  wings,  each  thirty  feet  in  front,  by  eighty- 
three  feet  in  depths  making  a  total  frontage  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet.  Each 
of  these  sections  of  the  building  is  surmounted  by  a  handsome  cupola,  of  the  Co- 
rinthian order  of  architecture.  The  building  is  mainly  constructed  of  brick,  stuc- 
coed in  imitation  ef  sand-stone:  the  basement  story  being  faced  with  sand-stone 
ashler,  rustic-jointed.  The  portico  of  the  center  building,  and  verandas  on  the 
fronts  and  sides  of  the  wings,  #re  of  sand-stone :  the  former  thirty  feet  wide  by  thirty 
five  feet  det-p,  and  extending  to  the  top  of  the  third  story.  The  portico  and  corni- 
ces of  the  building  are  of , the  Ionic  order. 


BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS.  ]_Q7 

In  addition  to  themain  structure  and  usual  out-buildings,  there  is  a  plain  three 
story  brick  building,  forty  by  sixty  feet,  containing  the  work-shops  for  the  several 
trades  of  the  pupils. 

The  number  of  pupils  in  attendance  during  the  past  year  was  one  hundred 
and  seven  ;  of  whom  forty-six  were  males,  and  sixty- one  females. 

The  corps  of  officers  and  instructors  is  composed  as  follows: 

Trustees. — P.H.Jameson,  President,  John  Beard,  Cass  Byfield;  Secretary, 
^  H.  W.  Ballard  ;  Superintendent,  W.  H.  Churchman;  Teachers  in  Literary  Depart- 
,  ment,  Albert  Stewart,  Miss  S.  A.  Scofield,  Mrs.  C.  C.  Wynn,  Miss  Kate  C.  Landis, 
Miss  Mary  Maloney ;  Teachers  in  Music  Department,  R.  A.  Newland,  D.  New- 
land  ;  Teachers  in  Handicraft  Department,  J.  W.  Bradshaw,  Mrs.  S.  J.  Ballard ; 
Household  Officers,  J.  M.  Kitchen,  M.  D.,  Physician,  H.  W.  Ballard,  (Steward, 
Mrs.  A.  C.  Landis,  Matron,  Mrs.  S.  J.  Ballard,  Girl's  Governess. 

The  Superintendents  of  the  Institution  have  been:  W.  H.  Churchman,  from 
October,  1,  1847,  to  September  30,  1853;  George  W.  Ames,  from  October  1,  1853, 
to  September  30,  1855;  William  C.  Larrabee,  from  October  1,  1855,  to  January  31, 
1857  ;  James  McWorkman,  from  February  1;  1857,  to  September  10,  1861 ;  "W.  H. 
Churchman,  the  present  Superintendent,  reappointed  October  10,  1861. 

The  annual  appropriation  fur  its  maintainance,'  is  about  $30,000. 

The  grounds  are  handsomely  adorned,  the  government  of  the  Institution  ex- 
cellent, and  its  efficiency  second  to  none  of  the  kind  in  the  country. 

The  engraving  on  another  page  gives  a  correct  view  of  the  building. 

INDIANA   INSTITUTE    FOR   THK   DEAF    AND    DUMB. 

This  Institution  was  authorized  by  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1844. 

Its  location  is  particularly  beautiful,  in  the  eastern  suburb  of  the  city,  just 
south  of  Washington  street. 

The  Institute,  proper,  consists  of  three  buildings  connected  by  corridors.  Two 
of  these  buildings  were  erected  in  1848-9;  the  third  in  1869-70. 

The  front  building  has  a  facade  of  two  hundred  and  sixty  feet;  and  con- 
tains the  offices,  library,  general  study  rooms,  officers'  and  teachers'  rooms,  and 
the  dormitories  for  the  pupils.  The  center  of  this  building  is  eighty  by  fifty- 
four  feet,  and  five  stories  high;  the  lateral  wings  sixty  by  thirty  feet,  and  three  sto- 
ries in  height ;  the  transverse  wings,  thirty  by  fifty  feet  and  four  stories  high.  The 
middle  building  contains  the  store-rooms,  kitchen,  laundry,  bakery,  dining-halls, 
servants'  rooms,  hospital,  and  several  school-rooms.  It  is  three  stories  high:  the 
center  being  forty  by  eighty  feet;  and  the  wings  thirty-two  by  seventy  feet.  The 
rear  building  contains  the  chapel  and  ten  school-rooms.  It  is  two  stories  high  ; 
the  center  being  fifty  feet  square;  and  the  wings  forty  by  twenty  feet. 

In  addition  to  the  above  described  buildings  there  are  others,  detached  from 
them,  containing  the  engine  house,  wash-house,  and  the  shops  .for  the  Industrial 
Department.  The  aggregate  cost  of  the  buildings  has  been  $220,000. 

The  grounds  comprise  one  hundred  and  five  acres,  worth  $1000  per  acre.  The 
grounds  more  directly  surrounding  the  buildings  are  beautifully  laid  off  in  walks, 
and  drives,  and  are  elaborately  ornamented  with  shrubbery  and  forest  trees;  and 
contain,  also,  a  flower  garden  with  conservatory.  Appropriate  spaces  are  devoted 
to  the  purposes  of  an  orchard,  a  vegetable  garden,  and  play  grounds  for  the  pupils. 
The  remainder,  and  principal  area,  is  laid  off  in  pasture  and  farm  lots. 

Altogether  it  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  spots  in  or  about  Indianapolis;  and 


188  HOLLOWAT'8  INDIANAPOLIS. 

must  go  far  to  make  those  for  whose  benefit  it  was  ordained  forget  their  misfor- 
tunes, in  the  scenes  of  beauty  about  them;  It  reflects  the  largest  credit  on  the 
State  that  founded  and  has  maintained  this  noble  charity ;  and  on  the  efficiency 
of  the  successive  managements  that  have  so  beautified  and  adorned  the  place.  Nor 
have  the  efforts  of  officers  and  teachers  to  make  the  Institution  useful — in  respect 
of  the  intellectual  and  moral  welfare  of  those  committed  to  their  care — been  less 
successful,  than  the  pains  taken  to  make  the  grounds  ornamental. 

The  number  of  pupils  in  attendance  during  the  past  year  was  two  hundred  and 
sixty-four. 

The  principal  officers  of  the  Institute  are:  Dr.  P.  H.  Jameson,  President; 
Dr.  J.  M.  Kitchen  and  W.  R.  Hogshire,  Trustees ;  Thomas  Mac  Intire,  Superintend- 
ent; Dr.  F.  S.  Newcomer,  Physician.  The  following  are  the  Instructors  in  the  In- 
tellectual Department :  Horace  S.  Gillett,  A.  M.,  William  H.  Latham,  A.  M.,  M.  D., 
Walter  W.  Angus,  Sidney  J.  Vail,  H.  N.  Mac  Intire,  William  N.  Burt,  A.  M., 
John  L.  Houdyshell,  Naomi  S.  Hiatt,  Eugene  W.  Wood,  Sarah  C.  Williams; 
Teacher  of  Articulation,  Joseph  C.  Gordon,  A.  M. 

The  first  Instructor  in  the  Institution  was  William  Willard,  a  deaf  mute,  who 
was  employed  in  1844,  at  a  salary  of  $800  per  annum.  Mr.  Willard  had  previ- 
ously conducted  a  small  school  'for  the  instruction  of  deaf  mutes  in  this  city.  He 
acted  as  Principal  to  the  Institution  until  July,  1845;  and  was  succeeded  by  J.  S. 
Brown,  who  served  as  Principal  until  July  7,  1853.  The  latter  was  succeeded  by 
the  present  Superintendent,  Thomas  Mac  Intire;  who,  for  seventeen  years,  has 
most  efficiently  discharged  his  responsible  duties. 

The  annual  appropriation  for  its  support  has  for  several  years  been  $44,000. 

INDIANA   FEMALE    PBISON   AND   REFORMATORY. 

This  Institution  is  one  of  the  fruits  of  the  recent  agitation  for  Prison  Reform, 
and  of  the  progress  lately  made  in  that  field.  It  had  its  origin  in  that  wise  benev- 
olence that  having  long  noted  the  defects  of  the  prison  system,  in  its  relation  to  the 
management  and  care  of  female  inmates,  in  1869  began  that  agitation  for  re- 
form in  this  respect,  which  resulted  in  attracting  considerable  attention  to  such 
defects,  and  in  stimulating  philanthropy  to  labor  for  their  correction.  The  atten- 
tion of  Governor  Baker  was  attracted  to  the  subject  of  Prison  Reform,  in  which  he 
became  very  much  interested ;  and  to  the  interest  and  investigation  given  the  sub- 
ject by  him,  is  due  the  first  practical  step  taken  toward  realizing  the  idea  of  the 
present  Indiana  Female  Prison  and  Keformatory.  To  this  end  he  drafted  a  Bill ; 
and  the  Legislature  endorsed  the  Governor's  recommendation  by  giving  it  the  au- 
thority of  a  statute.  The  following  extracts  from  the  Act  of  the  Legislature  are 
here  quoted,  as  best  explaining  the  nature  and  objects  of  the  Institution  : 

"As  soon  as  the  Penal  Department  of  the  institution  created  by  this  act  shall 
be  ready  for  the  reception  of  inmates,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  warden  of  said 
State  Prison,  upon  the  order  of  the  Governor,  to  transfer  and  convey  to  the  insti- 
tution created  by  this  act  all  the  female  convicts  who  may  then  be  confined  in  said 
prison,  and  deliver  them  to  the  Superintendent  of  said  institution,  with  a  certified 
statement  in  writing,  signed  by  such  warden,  setting  forth  the  name  of  each  con- 
vict, the  court  by  which,  and  the  offence  of,  and  for  which  she  was  convicted  and 
sentenced,  the  date  of  the  sentence,  the  term  of  the  court  at  which  sentence  was 
pronounced,  and  the  term  for  which  said  convict  was  sentenced,  which  certified 
statement  in  writing  shall  be  sufficient  authority  for  the  confinement  of  such  con- 


BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS. 

rict  in  the  institution  created  by  this  act,  for  the  portion  of  the  term  of  such  con- 
vict which  may  be  and  remain  unexpired  at  the  time  when  she  shall  be  transferred 
to  said  institution  as  aforesaid." 

The  provisions  with  regard  to  the  Reformatory  Department  declare  that: 
"  Whenever  said  institution  shall  have  been  proclaimed  to  be  open  for  the  re- 
ception of  girls  in  the  Reformatory  Department  thereof,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  said 
Board  of  Managers  to  receive  into  their  care  and  management,  in  the  said  Reform- 
atory Department,  girls  under  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  who  may  be  committed  to 
their  custody,  in  either  of  the  following  modes,  to-wit: 

First. — When  committed  by  any  Judge  of  a  Circuit  or  Common  Pleas  Court, 
either  in  term  time  or  in  vacation,  on  complaint  and  due  proof  by  the  parent  or 
guardian,  that  by  reason  of  her  incorrigible  or  vicious  conduct,  she  has  rendered 
her  control  beyond  the  power  of  such  parent  or  guardian,  and  made  it  manifestly 
requisite  that  from  regard  to  the  future  welfare  of  such  infant,  and  for  the  protec- 
tion of  society,  she  should  be  placed  under  such  guardianship. 

Second. — When  such  infant  shall  be  committed  by  such  judge  as  aforesaid, 
upon  complaint  by  any  citizen,  and  due  proof  of  such  complaint,  that  such  infant 
is  a  proper  subject  for  the  guardianship  of  said  institution,  in  consequence  of  her 
vagrancy  or  incorrigible  or  vicious  conduct,  and  that  from  moral  depravity  or 
otherwise  of  her  parent  or  guardian,  in  whose  custody  she  may  be,  such  parent  or 
guardian  is  incapable  or  unwilling  to  exercise  the  proper  care  or  discipline  over 
such  incorrigible  or  vicious  infant. 

Third. — When  such  infant  shall  be  committed  by  such  judge  as  aforesaid,  on 
complaint  and  due  proof  thereof,  by  the  Township  Trustee  of  the  township  where 
such  infant  resides,  that  such  infant  is  destitute  of  a  suitable  home,  and  of  adequate 
means  of  obtaining  an  honest  living,  or  that  she  is  in  danger  of  being  brought  up 
to  lead  an  idle  and  immoral  life." 

By  authority  of  tbe  Act  creating  the  institution,  the  Governor  appointed  Hon. 
E.  B.  Martindalej  of  this  city,  (who  has  been  succeeded  by  James  M.  Ray,  of  this 
city,)  Ashael  D.  Stone,  of  Winchester,  (who  has  been  succeeded  by  Dr.  Armstrong, 
of  Carroll  county,)  and  Joseph  I.  Irwin,  of  Columbus,  a  Board  of  Managers. 
These  gentlemen  secured  the  service  of  Isaac  Hodgson,  of  this  city,  who  drafted  a 
plan  for  the  proposed  prison,  which  was  accepted;  but  by  reason  of  the  fact  that 
the  appropriation  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  act, 
amounted  to  only  $50,000,  the  entire  plan  could  not  be  fully  carried  out  at 
present. 

The  building,  now  nearly  completed,  is  situated  just  north  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb 
Asylum,  between  it  and  the  Arsenal,  and  presents  quite  a  commanding  appearance 
when  vie  wed  from  the  National  road.  It  is  a  two  story  brick,  with  a  basement  and 
Mansard  roof.  It  will  be  one  hundred  and  severity-four  feet  long,  and  is  composed 
of  a  main  building  with  side  wings,  and  traverse  wings  at  either  end.  The  latter 
are  to  have  a  length  of  one  hundred  and  nine  feet.  Standing  in  front  of  the  cantral 
portion  of  the  building,  is  a  dwelling  house  three  stories  high,  with  a  basement, 
which  will  be  occupied  by  the  Superintendent  and  officers  of  the  Institution, 
and  connects  with  the  Reformatory  by  a  passage  way  on  the  first  floor. 

A  building  in  the  rear,  and  connecting  with  the  Reformatory  in  the  base- 
ment and  first  story  by  passage  ways,  will  be  occupied  by  a  large  boiler  room  and 
.bath  rooms.  A  brick  ventilating  stack  seventy  feet  high  will  be  located  here. 
The  style  of  architecture  is  "  Utilitarian,"  and  exhibits  excellent  taste  on  the 


190  SOLLOWATB  INDIANAPOLIS. 

part  of  the  architect,  and  practical  knowledge  of  the  requirements  of  such  an  in- 
stitution. 

Although  the  present  edifice  does  not  embrace  the  entire  plan  for  the  completed 
building,  it  is  perfect  in  itself,  and  contains  all  that  is  necessary  for  the  proper 
working  of  the  institution.  The  complete  plan  is  for  a  builiding  with  an  extreme 
length  of  five  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet.  But  several  years  will  necessarily 
pass  before  the  entire  building  can  be  finished,  or  indeed,  before  it  will  be  needed. 

Owing  to  the  premature  adjournment  of  the  last  General  Assembly,  the  neces- 
sary appropriation  for  finishing  the  building,  for  furnishing  it,  and  for  carrying  on 
the  institution,  was  not  made.  The  inauguration  of  the  institution  has,  therefore, 
been  delayed.  The  Committees  of  both  Houses  of  the  late  General  Assembly, 
however,  unanimously  approved  the  expenditures  already  made,  the  work  that  has 
been  performed,  and  the  estimates  submitted  for  future  appropriations;  so  that 
the  opening  of  the  institution  has  only  been  deferred  for  a  brief  period,  by  the  de- 
fault of  the  General  Assembly. 

INDIANA    HOUSE   OF   REFUGE. 

The  Legislature  of  Indiana,  by  an  Act  approved  March  8,  1867,  authorized  an 
institution  to  be  known  as  "A  House  of  Refuge  for  the  Correction  and  Reforma- 
tion of  Juvenile  Offenders.'' 

To  carry  out  the  provisions  of  this  Act  the  sum  of  $50,000  was  appropriated. 
The  general  supervision  and  government  of  the  Institut:on  is  vested  in  a  Board  of 
Control,  consisting  of  three  Commissioners,  to  be  appointed  by  the  Governor,  by 
and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate.  The  members  of  the  first  Board 
hold  their  offices  for  the  respective  terms  of  two,  four,  and  six  years,  and  after  this 
one  member  of  the  Board  to  be  appointed  in  the  same  manner,  every  two  years, 
whose  term  of  office  shall  continue  for  six  years. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  the  first  Board,  viz :  Charles  F.  Coffin,  Esq., 
of  Wayne  county,  Hon.  A.  C.  Downey,  of  Ohio  county  and  General  Joseph  Orr, 
of  Laporte  county. 

The  Board  held  their  first  meeting  in  the  Governor's  rooms  in  Indianapolis, 
Ind.,  on  the  23d  day  of  April,  1867,  and  organized  by  electing  Charles  F.  Coffin, 
President.  The  Board  then  resolved  to  visit  and  examine  the  Reform  School  at 
Chicago,  111.,  the  House  of  Refuge  at  Cincinnati,  0.,  and  the  Ohio  State  Reform 
Schools,  at  Lancaster,  O.  After  a  full  examination  and  consideration  of  the 
merits  of  these  institutions  for  the  reformation  of  juvenile  offenders,  the  Board 
unanimously  adopted  what  is  known  as  the  "  Family  System,"  (in  imitation  of  the 
Ohio  State  Reform  Schools,)  as  contra-distinguished  from  the  "  congregate  plan." 
This  system  divides  the  inmates  of  the  Institution  into  families  of  fifty  boys  each — 
each  family  having  a  separate  house  and- proper  family  officers.  The  officers  to 
each  family  are  a  House  Father  (who  has  the  immediate  charge  of  the  family  of 
boys)  assisted  by  an  Elder  Brother;  all  the  families  are  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
a  common  Superintendent. 

It  was  contemplated  by  the  founders  of  the  Institution,  and  by  the  legislature 
calling  it  into  existence,  that  it  should  be  located  at  some  suitable  point  near  Indi- 
anapolis, combining  the  several  necessary  conditions.  Manifestly  it  should  not  be 
located  so  near  a  large  city  as  to  allure  unruly  and  truant  inmates  from  the  quiet 
and  discipline  of  the  Institution  to  the  temptations  of  the  city.  In  view  of  this 
and  other  essential  considerations  controlling  its  location,  Governor  Baker  selected 
and  established  a  site  for  the  institution,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  south  of  Plainfield, 


BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS. 


191 


in  Hendricks  county,  on  the  line  of  the  Indianapolis,  Terre  Haute,  Vandalia  and 
St.  Louis  Railway,  fourteen  miles  west  of  Indianapolis.  The  site  is  a  very  eligi- 
ble one :  being  easy  of  access  from  all  parts  of  the  State. 

The  farm  upon  which  the  institution  is  located  contains-  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  acres;  combining  beauty  of  location  with  fertility  of  soil;  and  particu- 
lary  favored  with  running  streams  affording  an  ab.mdant  and  unfailing  supply  of 
water  for  the  use  of  the  institution,  and  for  the  needs  of  the  live  stock  on  the 
farm.  The  site  of  the  buildings  is  a  beautiful  plateau,  about  eighteen  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  adjacent  valley. 

The  engraving  on  another  page  will  serve  to  give  a  good  general  idea  of  the 
appearance  of  the  buildings  and  grounds. 

The  Board,  with  the  approval  of  the  Governor,  adopted  a  plan  for  the  grounds 
and  buildings,  with  a  view  to  the  ultimate  erection  of  one  main  building  and  eight 
family  houses,  besides  one  house  for  a  reading  room  and  hos-pital,  and  two  large 
shops  for  mechanial  labor,  intended  to  accommodate  four  hundred  boys. 

On  the  27th  of  August,  1867,  the  Board,  with  the  approval  of  the  Governor, 
appointed  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  B  Ainsworth,  Superintendent  and  Matron.  They 
immediately  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  which  they  have  ever  since 
discharged  with  great  credit  to  themselves  and  to  the  institution. 

On  the  first  of  January,  1868,  three  family  houses  and  one  work  shop  were 
completed  and  ready  for  occupancy,  and  the  Governor  issued  his  proclamation 
declaring  the  Institution  ready  for  the  reception  of  inmates.  During  the  past 
year  the  main  building  and  one  additional  family  house  have  been  completed, 

The  plan  of  the  buildings  is  an  elongated  octagon.  All  the  family  houses 
front  to  the  center  of  the  plateau  save  the  two  on  the  east  side,  whieh  front  to  the 
east.  The  main  building  stands  east  of  the  centre,  fronts  to  the  east;  it  is  sixty- 
four  by  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  feet,  external  measurement,  and  is  three  sto- 
ries high  above  the  basement.  In  the  basement  are  the  vegetable  cellars,  wash 
room,  ironing  room,  furnace  room  and  kitchen.  On  the  first  floor  are  the  office, 
reception  room,  officers  and  boys  dining  rooms,  pantry  and  store  room.  On  the 
second  floor  are  the  Superintendent's  family  rooms,  private  office,  and  five  dormi- 
tories for  oificers,  etc.  On  the  third  floor  are  the  Assistant  Superintendent's  roomsr 
a  store  room  and  library,  the  chapel  and  hospital. 

The  family  houses  are  uniform  in  style,  and  are  thirty-six  by  fifty-eight  feet 
external  measurement.  The  basement  contains  a  furnace  room,  a  store  room,  and 
a  large  wash  room,  which  is  also  used  for  a  play  room  in  stormy  weather.  On  the 
first  floor  are  two  rooms  for  the  House  Father  and  his  family ;  and  a  school  room, 
which  is  also  used  for  a  sitting-room  for  the  family  of  boys.  On  the  third  floor  are 
the  boys'  dormitory,  a  clothes  room  and  a  room  for  the  Elder  Brother,  etc. 

These  buildings  are  erected  on  a  plan  suggested  by  an  experienced  reformer, 
and  admirably  serve  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  designed. 

The  first  boy  was  received  January  23d,  1868,  into  the  institution,  from  Hen- 
dricks county.  A  few  days  after  this  ten  boya  were  transferred  from  the  Northern 
Prison.  Since  the  opening  of  the  institution  twenty-two  boys  have  been  received 
to  its  guardianship.  There  are  at  this  time  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  inmates 
remaining  in  the  institution;  two  having  been  indentured;  one  having  died,  and 
the  rest  having  been  discharged.  Notwithstanding  that  there  are  no  high  fences, 
walls,  or  physical  contrivances,  to  prevent  the  boys  from  escaping,  not  a  single  boy 
has  succeeded  in  getting  away,  and  although  the  inmates  are  of  the  most  hardened 
and  desperate  classes,  not  one  has  been  subjected  to  corporal  punishment. 


192  HOLLOWArS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  plan  of  instruction  is  that  of  the  most  approved  common  school  system. 
All  the  boys  attend  school  one-half  of  each  day  and  are  engaged  at  some  useful 
employment,  either  on  the  farm,  or  in  the  garden,  or  shoe-shop,  or  tailor-shop,  or 
chair-shop,  or  some  other  division  of  the  domestic  department,  the  other  half. 
This  discipline  is  mild  and  firm,  and  eminently  parental — the  higher  sentiments  of 
the  boys  being  appealed  to. 

The  institution  is  a  success  beyond  all  expectations,  and  it  has  already  demon- 
strated its  value  to  the  State  by  converting  to  a  life  of  usefulness  and  respecta- 
bility, many  neglected  children  who  would,  but  for  its  saving  influence,  have  been 
miserable  waifs  among  the  scum  of  society. 

THE   COUNTY   INFIRMARY. 

This  institution  is  situated  about  three  miles  north-west  of  the  city,  and  was 
established  in  1832.  It  is  a  well-managed  and  efficient  institution.  The  "farm," 
consisting  of  160  acres,  was  purchased  in  1832.  At  this  date  the  only  building 
on  the  site  was  a  log  cabin  of  two  rooms.  Buildings  were  erected  from  time  to 
time,  as  the  demand  for  accommodations  increased,  of  which  the  principal  struc- 
ture was  erected  in  1845.  To  this  an  addition  for  the  accommodation  of  the  insane 
paupers  was  made  in  1858.  These  buildings  were  soon  found  inadequate  to  the 
demand  upon  them;  and  in  1869  was  commenced  the  erection  of  the  present  capa- 
cious and  appropriate  structure.  The  corner  stone  of  the  building  was  laid  on  the 
28th  of  July,  1869;  and  it  was  dedicated  in  October,  1870,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 

The  principal  building  is  in  the  Norman  style  of  architecture.  Its  front  is 
two  hundred  and  four  feet;  extreme  depth,  one  hundred  and  eighty-four  feet;  height. 
four  stories.  The  building  presents  a  fine  architectural  iippearance.  The  p'ian  of 
the  interior  is  excellent;  securing  neatness,  convenience,  and  plentiful  light  and 
ventilation. 

In  the  rear  of  the  main  structure  is  another  building  twenty-eight  by  seventy 
feet,  and  two  stories  in  height. 

The  increased  room  thus  obtained  has  afforded  opportunities  for  introducing  a 
much  more  thorough  and  efficient  system  than  before  existed.  The  contrast  be- 
tween the  system  of  management  of  the  Marion  County  Infirmary  of  to-day  and 
that  of  the  past,  is  as  striking  as  the  contrast  between  the  present  buildings  and 
those  they  superseded. 

Now  the  institution  is  so  conducted  as  to  secure  the  well-being  of  the  inmates; 
then  it  was  merely  a  receptacle,  into  which  was  thrust  that  inconvenient  class  in  the 
community  who,  being  unable  to  help  themselves,  were  thus  stuck  away  out  of  sight 
and  dismissed  from  public  concern.  Now  the  management  conforms  to  common 
morality  and  propriety  by  separate  accommodations  for  the  sexes  ;  then  no  adequate 
separation  of  this  kind  was  practicable.  Now  the  insane  are  cared  for  apart  from  the 
others,  and  humane  and  adequate  means  employed  to  ameliorate  their  condition  and 
conduce  to  their  cure;  then  they  were  hidden  away  and  confined  in  repulsive  quar- 
ters and  surroundings  calculated  to  craze  the  sane,  and  with  nothing  but  the  rudest 
diet  for  eking  out  a  miserable  existence.  Then  the  institution  was  unsightly,  the 
quarters  unclean,  the  regimen  scant  and  unwholesome,  the  medical  assistance  inad- 
equte,  because  of  inaequate  compensation ;  no  regard  was  paid  to  the  education  of 
the  children,  or  to  the  moral  instruction  of  either  old  or  young.  Now  the  converse 
of  all  these  conditions  prevails:  cleanliness  pervades  the  buildings,  and  is  enforced 


BENEVOLENT    INSTITVTIONS.  193 

on  the  part  of  the  inmates;  religious  services  are  regularly  held  in  the  chapel;  a 
"nursery  department"  has  been  provided  for  the  children,  where  they  are  separ- 
ately kept,  and  given  the  needful  attention  in  respect  to  their  education,  their  mor- 
als and  their  health;  the  insane  are  appropriately  provided  for ;  and  the  due  dis- 
tinction between  the  sexes  is  observed.  This  contrast,  so  favorable  to  the  present 
condition  of  the  asylum,  does  not  signify  that  it  was  formerly  in  a  worse  state  than 
most  similar  institutions  of  to-day;  on  the  contrary  it  only  illustrates  the  superi- 
ority of  the  Marion  County  Infirmary  over  most  pauper  asylums.  Neither  is 
any  reflection  on  past  officials  intended ;  nor  is  it  charged  that  they  could  have 
done  better  with  the  means  with  which  they  were  furnished.  The  improvement 
in  the  condition  of  the  asylum  is  principally  due  to  the  attraction  of  the  attention 
of  the  community  to  the  need  for  reform  in  the  institution,  and  to  the  enlistment 
of  the  benevolent  and  humane  sentiment  of  the  people  in  its  behalf. 

The  first  Superintendent  was  Peter  Newland.  From  1832  to  1839  the  office  of 
Superintendent  was  discontinued,  and  its  functions  were  discharged  by  a  Board  of 
Directors.  The  records  show  the  following  to  have  served  as  Directors:  Wm. 
McCaw,  Gary  Smith,  James  Johnson,  Isaac  Pugh,  Samuel  McCray,  George  Lock- 
erbie, and  Thomas  F.  Stout. 

The  office  of  Superintendent  was  revived  in  1839;  since  which  time  the  follow- 
ing have  served  in  that  capacity:  Aquilla  Hilton,  James  Higgenbottom,  Nelson 
McCord,  Henry  Fisher,  William  H.  Watt,  John  Adams,  Levi  A.  Hardesty,  Parker 
S  Carson,  Joseph  L,  Fisher,  and  William  H.  Watt,the  present  Superintendent. 

The  office  of  Physician  to  the  Infirmary  was  created  in  1840,  previous  to  which 
date  the  Superintendent  was  authorized  to  call  in  a  physician  whenever  the  services 
of  one  might  be  required.     Since  the  creation  of  the  office  the  following  have  sue-- 
cessively  served  the  county  as  Physician  to  the  Infirmary :     Drs.  Parry,  Yeakle, 
Dunlap,  Mothershead,  Dunlap,  John  S.  Bobbs,  Sanders,  John  M.  Gaston,  M.  H. . 
Wright,  H.  C.  Brown,  Michael  Lynch,  K.  N.  Todd,  Milton  Phipps,  J.  K.  Bigelow, , 
Wm.  Wands,  and  H.  H.  Moore,  the  present  Physician.     The  office  of  Physician  was 
for  years  an  unattractive  trust.     The  salary  was  the  merest  trifle;    The  duties  con- 
siderable and  forbidding.     Recently  the  salary  has  been  increased ;  but  is  still  too  • 
small  to  possess  any  pecuniary  temptation  to  any  competent  physician  to  under- 
take the  discharge  of  the  duties. 

It  was  during  Dr.  Wand's  term  as  physician  that  the  new  buildings  were 
instituted  and  completed.  It  is  due  to  this  gentleman  to  give  him  large  credit  for 
agitation  of  the  question  of  reform,  for  urging  the  necessity  for  the  improvements 
that  have  since  been  made,  and  for  the  present  beneficent  system  of  the  Infirmary. 

At  this  time  there  are  about  38  children  in  the  nursery  department,  which  is 
under  the  charge  of  Mrs.  Durham. 

In  the  department  for  the  insane  there  are  about  58  patients,  under  the  imme- 
diate charge  of  Nicholas  Daly. 

The  whole  number  of  inmates  at  this  time  is  about  185. 

The  new  buildings  were  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $120,000,  and  the  value  of 
the  site  is  about  $32,000. 

INDIANAPOLIS   CITY    HOSPITAL. 

A  visitation  of  the  small  pox  in  1855,  first  suggested  the  idea  of  a  City  Hos- 
pital in  Indianapolis.     The  result  was,  that  early  in  March,  1856,  the  establishment 
of  such  an  institution  was  authorized  by  the  Common  Council.     A  site  was  secured 
(13) 


194  HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

in  the  north-western  part  of  the  city,  containing  nine  and  one-half  acres ;  and  the 
Hospital  building  was  completed  in  1859. 

To  the  efforts  and  influence  of  Dr.  Livingston  Dunlap,  an  estimable  citizen, 
an  eminent  physician,  and  a  member  of  the  Council,  is  the  establishment  of  this 
institution  so  largely  due,  that  he  has  been  appropriately  called  the  "  Father  of 
the  City  Hospital." 

For  about  two  years  after  its  completion  the  Hospital  was  an  idle  piece  of 
property.  First  it  was  proposed  to  sell  the  property  ;  then  various  uses  were  sug- 
gested; and  a  proposition  from  the  Catholic  Church  to  conduct  it  as  a  hospital  was 
defeated,  because  of  denominational  objections.  Finally  the  property  was  placed 
in  the  care  of  a  keeper;  in  which  condition  it  was  found  at  the  beginning  of  the 
Rebellion.  The  concentration  of  troops  at  this  point  dictated  the  employment  of 
the  institution  as  a  hospital  for  military  purposes ;  and  to  this  end  Drs.  Kitchen 
and  Jameson  were  appointed  by  the  State  authorities  to  the  charge  of  the  hospital 
in  May,  1861. 

Under  the  zealous  and  very  efficient  direction  of  Dr.  Kitchen,  the  institution 
was  used  as  a  military  hospital  until  July,  1865;  during  which  period  its  great 
usefulness  vastly  more  than  compensated  for  the  outlay  incurred  in  iis  establish- 
ment and  maintenance.  From  July,  1865,  to  April,  1866,  the  institution  was  used 
for  a  Soldiers'  Home,  under  Dr.  M.  M.  Wishard,  in  which  capacity  it  again  sub- 
served in  a  large  degree  the  causes  of  philanthropy  and  patriotism. 

During  Dr.  Kitchen's  administration  extensive  improvements  in  buildings,  as 
well  as  in  the  hospital  system,  were  made ;  so  that  at  the  close  of  the  war,  when  the 
institution  was  surrendered  to  the  city,  the  latter  found  itself  the  possessor  of 
a  hospital  organized  at  the  expense  of  the  United  States  Government. 

About  13,000  patients  were  treated  in  the  hospital  during  the  war.  Under  Dr. 
Kitchen's  administration,  also,  the  grounds  were  ornamented  by  shade  trees,  fur- 
ther adding  to  the  usefulness  and  attractiveness  of  the  place — another  result  of 
his  constant  concern  and  efforts  for  the  improvement  of  the  institution. 

April  27th,  1866,  Dr.  Kitchen  published  a  card  in  the  Journal  calling  attention 
to  the  neglected  state  of  the  institution,  and  to  the  necessity  for  putting  it  into  an 
efficient  condition  for  use  by  the  city.  A  meeting  of  the  citizens  was  immediately 
held,  and  Hon.  J.  D.  Howland  appointed  to  present  the  subject  to  the  Council. 
April  30th  a  committee  of  the  Council,  consisting  of  Dr.  Jameson  and  Messrs. 
Kappes  and  Emerson,  were  appointed  to  meet  the  Board  of  Health  and  perfect  a 
plan  for  the  improvement  and  management  of  the  hospital,  and  to  report  the  neces- 
sary ordinance  for  that  purpose.  At  a  special  meeting,  May  2d,  an  ordinance  was 
introduced  authorizing  the  purchase  of  materials  sufficient  to  equip  a  hospital  with 
accommodations  for  75  patients.  William  Hannaman  was  appointed  the  agent  of 
t-ke  city  to  make  purchases.  An  ordinance  for  the  management  of  the  hospital  was 
also  passed  at  the  same  time.  These  efforts  were  greatly  accelerated  by  a  threat- 
ened visitation  of  cholera,  then  prevailing  in  Europe. 

The  ordinance  for  the  management  of  the  hospital  provided  for  the  election  of 
a  Board  of  Directors,  in  which  each  ward  was  to  be  represented,  who  were  invested 
with  full  control  of  the  management  of  the  institution.  The  Board  organized 
June  12th,  1866,  by  the  election  of  Dr.  J.  M.  Kitchen  President,  and  L.  B.  Wilson, 
Esq.,  Secretary.  June  28th,  1866,  Dr.  G.  V.  Woolen  was  elected  Superintendent 
for  one  year,  also  the  following  Medical  and  Surgical  Staff: 

Surgeons — Drs.  J.  S.  Bobbs,  J.  S.  Athon,  J.  A.  Comingor,  and  L.  D.  Waterman . 
Physicians— Drs.  J.  H.  Woodburn,  T.  B.  Harvey,  R.  N.  Todd,  and  J.  M.  Gaston. 


BENEVOLENT   INSTITUTIONS.  195 

Dr.  Woolen  opened  the  hospital  on  the  1st  of  July,  1866.  .  To  the  requisite 
attainments  in  medical  science  he  added  great  energy  and  much  previous  experi- 
3nce  in  like  responsibilities;  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  hospital  was  placed  in 
good  condition  for  the  reception  of  patients.  Large  repairs  and  some  important 
additions  were  made  during  his  administration.  Great  care  and  economy  were 
necessary  during  the  first  year  of  its  existence,  in  order  to  inaugurate  and  maintain 
the  charity  without  making  it  oppressive  financially.  Its  officers  found  much 
ignorance  prevailing  as  to  the  nature  and  wants  of  such  an  institution,  encountered 
many  perplexities  unknown  to  the  people  generally,  and  certainly  are  deserving 
the  thanks  of  the  public  for  their  industry,  and  patience,  and  good  management. 

Dr.  Woolen  was  Superintendent  of  the  institution  until  July  1st,  1870,  when 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  E.  Hadley,  the  present  Superintendent,  who  is  serv- 
ing the  hospital  well  and  acceptably. 

Since  his  retirement  from  the  superintendence  of  the  institution,  Dr.  Kitchen 
has  remained  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Directors;  and  still  continues  to  take 
his  old  interest  in  the  success  of  the  hospital. 

During  the  official  year  ending  July  1st,  1870,  the  number  of  patients  treated 
was  245;  number  of  births  27;  number  of  deaths  25.  During  the  same  period  the 
total  expenditures  of  the  institution  wire  $6,606.97;  and  the  average  expense  per 
capita  was  $0.50. 

The  present  number  of  patients  is  48  ;  the  whole  number  treated  in  the  insti- 
tution from  the  beginning,  1,180. 

The  officers  for  the  current  year  are :  President  of  the  Board  of  Directors, 
Dr.  F.  S.  Newcomer;  Superintendent,  Dr.  E.  Hadley;  Assistant  Superintendent, 
Dr.  R.  D.  Craighead ;  Matron,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Porter.  The  Medical  and  Surgical  Staff 
Is  comnosed  as  follows :  Consulting  Officers — Drs.  George  W.  Mears  and  James 
S.  Athon;  Surgeons— Drs.  J.  A.  Corningor,  L.  D,  Waterman,  G.  V.  Woolen  and  J. 
K.  Bigelow;  Physicians — Drs.  Thomas  B.  Harvey,  K.  N.  Todd,  D.  H.  Oliver  and  A. 
W.  Davis. 

HOME    FOR   FRIENBLESS   WOMEN, 

Location:     Tennessee  street,  just  beyond  city  limits. 

In  1863,  Stoughton  A.  Fletcher,  sr.,  donated  to  the  city  of  Indianapolis,  seven 
acres  of  ground  lying  southwest  of  the  city,  near  White  river,  on  condition  that, 
within  a  certain  time  a  house  should  be  built  for  abandoned  women,  to  serve  as  a 
prison  for  the  vicious  and  intractable — as  a  home  for  the  more  mild  and  teachable. 
The  gift  was  accepted,  and  the  house  commenced.  Seven  thousand  dollars  had 
been  expended  on  a  foundation,  when  the  work  suddenly  came  to  a  stop ;  all  the 
means  in  the  public  treasury  being  required  for  bounties  for  the  soldiers.  The 
building  was  never  completed,  nor  the  site  occupied  for  the  use  for  which  it  was 
donated,  being  too  far  from  the  city. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  cooperated  with  the  active  friends  of 
the  enterprise;  committees  of  the  Association  canvassed  the  city  for  funds;  and 
finally  a  building  of  nine  rooms  was  obtained  for  a  temporary  Home,  situated  on 
North  Pennsylvania  street.  The  early  efforts  of  the  Home  were  directed  to  the 
amelioration  of  the  condition  of  the  prisoners  in  the  county  jail,  from  which  its 
first  inmates  were  taken  :  all  of  whom  were  more  or  less  benefitted,  and  many  of 
them  greatly. 

But  the  publicity  of  the  location,  as  well  as  other  reasons  not  necessary  to  be 


SOLLOWAT'S  INDIANATOLTS. 

stated  here,  was  an  obstruction  to  the  highest  usefulness  of  the  institution;  am. 
steps  were  soon  taken  to  obtain  the  necessary  means  for  a  permanent  Home  in  a, 
more  suitable  location.  For  this  purpose  the  city  and  county  appropriated  $7,500 
each. 

A  location  on  North  Tennessee  street,  just  outside  the  city  limits  was  secured; 
aad  by  means  of  the  city  and  county  appropriations,  money  donations,  and  dona- 
tions of  city  lots  by  James  M.  Ray,  William  S.  Hubbard  and  Calvin  Fletcher,  of 
Indianapolis,  and  by  Stillman  Witt,  Esq ,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  early  in  May, 
1870,  a  suitable  building  had  been  erected.  The  Home  was  dedicated  on  the  21st 
day  of  May,  1870,  the  religious  services  on  the  occasion  being  conducted  by  Rev. 
Drs.  Scott,  Holliday,  Day,  and  others. 

The  building  thus  completed  and  dedicated  was  in  the  Renaissance  style  of 
architecture,  of  brick,  fifty-seven  by  seventy-five  feet,  three  stories  high,  with  forty- 
nine  pleasant  rooms  and  chambers,  having  a  capacity  for  one  hundred  inmates,  and 
was  a  neat,  convenient,  and  commodious  structure.  , 

In  this  building  for  several  months;  the  institution  was  conducted  with  the  most 
commendable  philanthropy.  It  was  conducted  not  as  a  prison,  but  as  a  Home,  to 
which  the  inmates  should  become  attached.  Pains  were  taken  to  learn  the  work- 
ings of  similar  institutions  elsewkere;  for  which  purpose  some  of  the  Managers 
traveled  extensively. 

It  has  been  indeed,  what  its  name  signifies — a  "  Home  for  Friendless  Women." 
Not  alone  as  a  refuge  for  Fallen  Women;  but  also  for  the  needy  and  helpless  of 
the  sex,  irrespective  of  the  causes  of  their  misfortunes. 

The  success  of  the  Home  has  exceeded  the  expectations  of  its  benevolent 
founders.  "Lost"  girls — "lost''  in  the  dreariest  sense  ef  the  word — "lost"  in 
their  own  reckless  abandonment  to  vice — ';  lost  "  in  the  judgment  and  estimation  of 
society — shelterless  and  utterly  depraved — whose  only  home  was  the  jail,  the  low 
brothel,  or  the  open  air — have  found  in  the  Home  a  refuge,  and  a  restoration  to  the 
community's  and  their  own  respect. 

The  institution  was  suddenly  interrupted  in  its  mission  of  usefulness  by  a  fire 
on  the  23d  of  September,  1870;  which  laid  the  building  in  ashes,  save  a  portion  of 
the  walls.  By  this  calamity,  a  loss  of  several  thousands  of  dollars  over  insurance 
was  sustained.  A  building  for  a  temporary  Home  was  secured  at  No.  476  North 
Illinois  street;  where  the  inmates  have  been  provided  with  a  home,  while  the  mana- 
gers and  the  community  set  themselves  busily  to  work  to  rebuild  the  institution  on 
its  old  site.  It  was  found  that  the  walls  of  the  burned  building  were  available  for 
use  in  erecting  the  new ;  appropriations  were  again  obtained  from  the  city  and 
county;  and  by  these  aids  and  individual  donations,  the  work  of  rebuilding  the 
Home  "was  prosecuted  with  such  vigor  and  success,  that  the  new  building,  on  the 
site  of  the  old,  was  recently  dedicated  and  occupied— a  building  as  commodious,  as 
convenient,  and  as  attractive  as  the  one  destroyed. 

The  results  of  the  institution  attest  its  usefulness,  and  speak  the  praise  of  its  man- 
a^ ement.  The  Home  was  opened  on  the  22d  February,  1867-.  During  that  year  it 
had  70  inmates;  during  1868,  140;  during  1869,  133;  during  1870,  225.  Its  man- 
agement has  been  as  economical  as  it  has  been  useful.  During  the  first  three  years 
of  its  existence,  its  aggregate  expenses  were  $5,612.19.  Conspicuous  in  the  admin- 
istration of  the  institution  from  the  first  have  been  James  Smith  acd  his  wife,  Sarah 
J.  Smith — members  of  the  Society  of  Friends  Both  have  been  faithful  and  effi- 
cient. Mrs.  Smithas  City  Missionary,  has  blended  decided  energy  with  philan-- 
thropy. 


BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS. 

The  limits  of  this  sketch  do  not  admit  of  mention  of  all  those,  dead  and  living, 
'•who  have  given  important  aid  and  encouragement  to  this  enterprise.  Conspicuous 
among  these  has  been  James  M.  Ray,  Esq.;  and  it  is  justly  claimed  that  to  him 
more  than  to  any  other  one  person  is  the  establishment  of  the  institution  indebted. 
The  late  Col.  Blake  was  also  a  fast  and  useful  friend  of  the  enterprise.  Both  of 
•these  citizens — the  one  yet  living,  and  the  other  gone  to  hie  reward — have  been 
permanently  connected  with  many  benevolent  institutions  and  enterprises  in  the 
city  and  county. 

The  present  officers  of  the  institution  are:  James  Smith,  Superintendent; 
Sarah  J.  Smith,  City  Missionary;  Miss  Sarah  M.  Alcorn,  Matron. 

Officers  of  the  Board  of  Managers. — Mrs  John  S.  Newman,  President;  Mrs. 
-J.  L.  Ketcham,  Mrs.  Hannah  Hadley,  Vice  Presidents;  Mrs.  C.  N.  Todd,  Treas'r; 
.Mrs.  Charles  W.  Moores,  Corresponding  Secretary;  Mrs.  J.  H.  Kappes,  Recording 
Secretary ;  Mrs.  J.  M.  Kay,  Auditor. 

Officers  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. — James  M.  Kay,  President;  William  S. 
'Hubbard,  Treasurer;  Samuel  Merrill,  Secretary;  D.  E.  Snyder  Auditor. 

OEPHAK'S  HOME. 

Location  :     Corner  of  Tennessee  and  Fifth  streets. 

The  movement  for  the  erection  of  this  institution  wae  started  in  the  year  1849, 
'by  the  Indianapolis  Benevolent  Society.  At  the  annual  meeting  of  this  associa- 
tion, in  that  year,  the  destitution  among  the  widows  and  orphans  in  the  city  was 
a  prominent  subject  of  consideration ;  and  committees  were  appointed  to  enlighten 
the  public  as  to  the  extent  of  such  destitution,  and  to  enlist  popular  charity  for 
its  amelioration.  At  a  called  meeting  of  the  same  society  in  November  of  the 
; above  year,  a  society  for  the  relief  of  the  classes  stated,  was  organized,  by  the  elec- 
tion of  a  President,  three  Vice  Presidents,  a  Treasurer,  a  Secretary,  a  Depositary, 
thirteen  Managers,  and  a  Visiting  Committee, — all  of  whom  were  ladies;  and  an 
Advisory  Committee  of  gentlemen. 

In  January,  1850,  this  society  obtained  a  legislative  charter  for  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Home.  The  first  officers  were  as  follow : 

Mrs.  A.  W.  Morris,  President^  Mrs.  Alfred  Harrison,  Mrs.  William  Sheets, 
Mrs.  Judge  Morrison,  Vice  Presidents;  Mrs.  Phipps,  Treasurer;  Mrs.  Hollings- 
'head,  Secretary;  Mrs.  Wilkins,  Depositary  ;  Mrs.  Calvin  Fletcher,  Mrs.  Graydon, 
Mrs.  McGuire,  Mrs.  I.  P.  Williams,  Mrs.  Cressy,  Mrs.  Williams,  Mrs.  Willard, 
Mrs.  Underbill,  Mrs.  Irvin,  Mrs  Dr.  Dunlap,  Mrs.  I.  Hall,  Mrs.  Bradley,  Mana- 
gers; Mrs.  Duncan,  Mrs.  Ferry,  Mrs.  Paxton,  Mrs.  Dunn,  Mrs.  Campbell,  Mrs.  A. 
F.  Morrison,  Mrs.  M'Carty,  Mrs.  Myers,  Mrs.  Brouse,  Mrs.  Wiseman,  Visiting  Com- 
mittee; Messrs.  N.  M'Carty,  A.  Harrison,  Judge  Morrison,  Willi-am  Sheets,  J.  K. 
'Osgood,  Butler,  A.O.  Willard,  Ohr,  and  Wilkins,  Advisory  Committee. 

In  1854,  the  association  was  enabled  to  purchase  two  city  lots  for  a  site  for  the 
Home;  a  third  being  then  donated  for  that  purpose  by  James  P.  Drake,  Esq.  In 
1855,  the  first  building  on  this  site  was  erected,  costing  $1,200.  In  1869,  the  build- 
ing was  greatly  enlarged  and  improved,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000;  all — as  well  as  the 
sums  previously  expended — having  been  raised  by  popular  donations.  The  prop- 
erty and  improvements  are  now  worth  about  $14,000;  aad  the  institution  is  in  a 
prosperous  condition.  It  has  an  average  family  of  thirty-five  children.  While  the 
.necessaries  of  life  are  provided  for  the  children,  their  education  is  not  neglected  : 


J98  BOLLOWAFB  INMANAP&LIS. 

in  the  institution  a  school  is  conducted  three  hours  each  day,  by  a  competent 
governess. 

The  domestic  arrangements,  which  are  managed  in  a  most  excellent  manner, 
are  administered  by  a  matron,  governess,  nurse,  cook,  and  a  man-of-all-work. 

The  Home  is  one  of  the  most  useful  and  efficiently  conducted  permanent  char- 
ities in  the  city.  It  has  no  endowment,  and  its  successful  establishment  and  main- 
tainance  is  due  to  the  unwearying  philanthropy  of  those  who  have  had  its  inter- 
ests in  charge — sustained,  of  course,  by  popular  contributions.  Of  late  years  the 
County  has  come  to  the  assistance  of  the  institution  with  a  quarterly  allowance  for 
the  board  of  each  child. 

Prominent  in  the  infancy  of  the  institution,  and  during  their  whole  lives,  for 
valuable  services  and  persevering  benificence  in  this  field,  were  Mrs.  Alfred  Harri- 
son, Mrs.  A.  G.  Willard,  Mrs.  Richmond,  and  Mrs.  John  H.  Bradley. 

The  donations  in  support  of  the  Home  h-ave  been  many,  and,  in  the  aggregate, 
large.  Among  these  we  find  record  of  the  following :  A  lot,  donated  by  W.  S. 
Hubbard,  Esq.,  from  which  $800  was  realized;  a  legacy,  of  $1,200,  from  Mrs. 
Bryant;  considerable  donations  from  Calvin  Fletcher,  Sr.,  Mrs.  Givan,  and  Mrs. 
John  H.  Bradley;  and  $600  worth  of  provisions  from  the  Society  of  Friends. 

The  number  of  children  cared  for  at  the  Home  during  the  past  year  was  120. 

The  Presidents  of  the  Society,  so  far  as  record  of  them  is  found,  from  the  begin- 
ning, have  been,  Mrs.  A.  W.  Morris,  Mra.  A.  G.  Willard,  Mrs.  W.  T.  Clark,  Mrs. 
Wilson,  and  Mrs.  Hannah  T.  Hadley. 

At  the  last  meeting  of  the  Managers,  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  May,  187], 
the  following  officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing  yea-r : 

Mr*  Hannah  T.  Hadley,  President;  Mrs.  Dr.  J.  H.  Woodburn,  Mrs.  John  S. 
Tarkington,  and  Mrs.  John  Bradshaw,  Vice  Presidents ;  Mrs.  Fred.  Baggs,  Treas- 
urer; Mrs.  Benj.  Harrison,  Secretary;  Mrs.  John  C.  Wright,  Corresponding 
Secretary. 

Board  of  Managers. — Mrs.  William  Mansur,  Mrs.  Joseph  E.  McDonald,  Mrs. 
John  C.  New,  Mrs.  David  Macy,  Mrs.  Kachel  Clarke,  Mrs.  John  I.  Morrison,  Mrs. 
William  D.  Hawk,  Mrs.  Cyrus  Boaz,  Mrs.  J.  T.  Wright,  Mrs.  R.  M.  Pattison, 
Mrs.  Margaret  Evans,  and  Mrs.  John  Fishback. 

Advisory  Committee.- — His  Excellency  Governor  Baker,  Alfred  Harrison,  Esq., 
Hon  E.  B.  Martindale,  J.  R.  Osgood,  Esq.,  John  M.  Lord,  Esq.,  General  Daniel 
Macauley,  Hon.  Jos.  E.  McDonald,  Jacob  T.  Wright,  Esq.,  Thomas  H.  Sharpe, 
Esq.,  W.  H.  Morrison,  Esq.,  William  Jackson,  Esq.,  Hon.  John  W.  Ray,  James 
M.  Hume,  and  Gea.  George  F.  McGinnis. 

INDIANAPOLIS   ASTLTJM  FOR     FRIENDLESS  COLORED   CHILDREN. 

This  institution  is  located  in  the  north-western  quarter  of  the  city. 

The  Articles  of  Association  for  its  establishment  were  filed  for  record  on  the  28th 
of  February,  1870.  The  building  was  erected  and  completed,  during  that  year. 

The  management  of  its  affairs  is  vested  in  a  Board  of  Directors,  now  composed 
as  follows : 

William  Hadley,  President;  Solomon  Blair,  Treasurer;  William  C.  Hobbs, 
Secretary;  James  Kersey,  of  Hendricks  county ;  Joseph  Morris,  Plainfield ;  Allen 
Hadley,  Mooresville;  B.  C.  CofBn,  W.  L.  Pyle,  Enos  G.  Pray,  Indiangolis ;  Charles 
Reeve,  Eriendswood. 


BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS.  199 

.  INDIANAPOLIS   BENEVOLENT   SOCIETY. 

On  page  50,  mention  is  made,  in  a  general  way,  of  this  society.  Its  antiquity ; 
its  large  usefulness;  the  honored  names,  living  and  dead,  connected  with  it  in 
the  past  and  present ;  make  appropriate  a  fuller  sketch  of  ijs  history  in  this 
place. 

The  society  was  organized  on  Thanksgiving  evening,  in  November,  1835.  The 
movement  was  participated  in  by  representative  Christian  citizens  of  the  city 
generally,  irrespective  of  denomination ;  and  the  usual  religious  services  on  the 
above  mentioned  evening,  were  dispensed  with  in  all  the  churches,  to  enable  the 
members  to  participate  in  the  work  of  organizing  this  society.  Each  succeeding 
anniversary  has  been  celebrated  on  Thanksgiving  evening;  on  which  occasions, 
it  is  well  understood  that  the  usual  Thursday  evening  services  are  not  to  be  held 
in  the  churches,  that  their  members  may  attend  the  Anniversary  meeting  of  this 
society.  Its  plan  is  simple,  as  its  work  of  charity  is  great. 

For  the  purposes  of  the  society,  the  city  is  divided  into  districts,  now  thirty 
in  number.  The  officers  consist  of  a  President,  Secretary,  and  Treasurer.  "Who- 
ever contributes  to  the  charities  dispensed  by  the  society,  is  a  member  of  it.  At 
each  anniversary  meeting  officers  are  elected  for  the  ensuing  year,  donations  are 
collected  and  a  canvassing  committee  (consisting  of  one  gentleman  and  one  lady) 
is  appointed  for  each  district. 

The  officers,  and  these  committees,  constitute  the  whole  Executive  authority  of 
the  society.  The  committees  canvass  their  respective  districts  for  contributions  of 
money  and  clothing.  The  money  goes  into  the  care  of  the  Treasurer;  the  cloth- 
ing, etc.,  into  a  depository. 

The  committees  draw  on  the  depository  as  occasion  arises,  for  the  articles  there 
deposited,  for  the  benefit  of  the  destitute  in  their  respective  districts.  To  prevent 
the  misappropriation  of  the  money  thus  raised,  a  contract  is  made  with  one  or  more, 
(generally  two)  grocers,  to  supply  groceries  on  the  order  of  the  members  of  the 
committees.  The  usual  weeky  allowance  thus  made  is  $1.50  for  each  family;  in- 
creasable,  if  required,  in  cases  of  sickness.  A  committee  is  also  empowered  to  re- 
lieve the  destitution  of  transient  persons,  and  aid  in  securing  them  transportation 
to  their  homes  or  friends. 

The  first  President  of  the  society  was  the  late  James  Blake,  Sr.;  who  held  that 
trust  continuously,  to  the  period  of  his  death,  November  26th,  1870.  Calvin 
Fletcher,  Sr.,  was  its  Secretary  from  the  time  of  its  organiztion,  until  his  death, 
May  26th,  1866;  and  James  M.  Ray,  was  its  Treasurer,  from  the  beginning,  until 
Mr.  Blake's  death,  when  he  became  President.  The  present  officers  are : 

James  M.  Ray,  President;  Ebenezer  Sharpe,  Treasurer;  Rev.  Elijah  T. 
Fletcher,  Secretary. 

LADIES'  SOCIETY  FOR  THE  RELIEF  OF  THE  POOR. 

This  society  was  organized  on  the  10th  of  February,  1869,  by  a  few  Protestant 
and  Catholic  ladies  of  this  city.  Its  object,  in  a  word,  is  benificence.  Its  means 
are  derived  by  such  methods  as  fairs,  donations,  etc. 

The  society  is  strictly  undenominational  in  its  membership,  and  its  charities 
are  dispensed  without  reference  to  creeds.  In  an  unostentatious  manner,  it  has  ac- 
complished a  great  deal  in  the  way  of  practical  philanthropy.  The  officers  are  : 

Mrs.  J.  H.  McKernan,  President;  Mrs.  John  A.  Reaume,  Treasurer;  Miss 
Julia  Cox,  Secretary. 


200  BOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

GERMAN    PROTESTANT   ORPHANS1   ASSOCIATION. 

This  body  was  permanently  organized  on  the  llth  day  of  August,  1867,  with 
Frederick  Thorns,  Esq.,  as  the  first  President. 

Like  every  other  young  organization  of  a  benevolent  character,  unaided  by 
appropriations  from  the  public  treasury,  its  progress  was  at  first  slow;  while  ob- 
stacles were  abundant  and  difficult.  The  society,  has,  however,  been  superior  to 
all  discouragements  and  come  to  be  an  important  instrumentality  in  the  work  of  be- 
nevolence. In  the  absence  of  a  building  for  an  asylum  for  those  for  whose  benefit 
the  society  was  organized  and  has  labored,  its  benefactions  have  been  performed  in 
such  other  ways  as  were  practicable. 

The  society  has  purchased  a  site  of  six  and  three-quarter  acres,  at  the  termi- 
nus of  Virginia  avenue,  on  which  will  be  erected,  as  soon  as  possible,  a  suitable 
building  for  an  Orphans'  Home.  The  association  has  about  one  hundred  members. 
Its  present  officers  are  : 

Conrad  Kusse,  President;  J.  J.  Wenner,  Vice  President;  Tobias  Bender  and 
Fr.  Hillman,  Secretaries;  Henry  Helm,  Treasurer;  Frederick  Thorns,  J.  Helm, 
H.  H.  Koch,  T.  Sander,  William  Teckenbrock,  and  Henry  Mankedick,  Trustees. 

LADIES    GERMAN    PROTESTANT    ORPHANS1    HOME    ASSOCIATION. 

This  is  an  auxiliary  to  the  foregoing  society,  and  its  stated  meetings  are  held 
at  the  same  times  and  place.  It  was  founded  in  the  month  of  October,  1870. 
Its  officers  are : 

Mrs.  Ruschaupt,  President;  Mrs.  Schoppenhorst,  Vice  President;  Mrs.  Eein- 
heimer,  Secretary ;  Mrs.  Reiher,  Treasurer. 

THE   INDIANAPOLIS   SOCIETY   FOR  THE   RELIEF   OF   THE    CRIPPLED,    RUPTURED, 

AND     DEFORMED. 

The  system  of  Benevolent  Institutions  of  this  State,  caring  so  liberally  and 
extensively  for  the  Insane,  Blind,  and  Deaf  and  Dumb,  makes  no  provision  for  a 
class  at  least  as  large  as  either  of  these,  as  helpless,  and  that  would  seem  to  be  also 
entitled  to  similar  assistance  from  the  State — its  crippled,  impotent  and  deformed 
population. 

To  remedy  the  condition  of  this  class  of  unfortunates,  a  number  of  the  liberal 
and  benevolent  citizens  of  this  city,  incorporated  the  above  named  Society  on  the 
7th  of  September,  1870.  The  proposed  capital  stock  of  the  society  was  $100,000, 
subject  to  enlargement.  "Over  that  sum  has  been  promptly  subscribed  for  the  ob- 
ject here,  mostly  by  citizens  of  the  Capital,  but  that  this  foundation  may  be  en- 
larged, so  as  to  provide  for  the  aid  of  the  affiicted  and  needy  in  all  parts  of  the 
State  the  co-operation  of  the  friends  of  such  an  effort,  in  the  several  counties,  is 
needful  and  is  earnestly  solicited. 

"The  whole  management  of  the  association  is  in  the  hands  of  the  subscribers 
thereto,  each  sum  of  $25  entitling  the  subscriber  to  membership  and  an  equal  voice 
in  all  its  control,  while  the  payment  of  ten  dollars  entitles  to  membership  without 
voting. 

"The  subscription  of  $25  also  entitles  the  subscriber  to  nominate  a  patient  for 
treatment.  $100  entitles  the  subscriber  to  the  annual  nomination  of  a  patient. 
$1000  entitles  to  the  nomination  of  a  patient  for  a  free  bed  annually.  $5000  enti- 


BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS.  201 

ties  the  subscriber,  and  his  heirs  or  assigns,  to  the  nomination  of  a  patient  to  a 
perpetual  free  bed  from  the  society. 

"The  aim  of  the  society  is  to  provide  comfortable  homes  and  boarding  in  the 
City  of  Indianapolis,  at  low  rates  or  free  of  charge,  as  the  necessities  of  the  poor 
may  require — also,  surgical  treatment,  and  mechanical  apparatus,  appliances,  sup- 
porters, etc.,  for  relieving  deformities,  paralysis,  and  other  affections  destroying  the 
usefulness  of  their  limbs  or  bodies." 

The  articles  of  association  provide  that  no  salary  shall  be  attached  to  any  office 
held  in  the  society. 

All  apparatus  and  appliances  to  be  furnished  at  the  cost  only  of  the  time  and 
materials  required  for  their  manufacture. 

The  society  is,  as  yet,  without  a  building  of  its  own  ;  but  the  patients  are  pro- 
vided with  suitable  board.  The  surgeons  are  Drs.  Allen  and  Johnson,  of  the  Sur- 
gical Institute;  and  the  superior  facilities  of  that  institution  are  thus  afforded  the 
patients. 

"Sixty  patients  have  already  received  gratuitous  treatment,  aid,  and  relief, 
through  the  society.  Twenty  cases  have  required  and  been  provided  with  appara- 
tus or  mechanical  appliances  for  deformity.  Twelve  cases  have  required  and  been 
relieved  by  surgical  operation.  Fourteen  of  these  patients  reside  in  this  city,  but 
the  benefits  of  the  society  are  designed  to  extend  to  sufferers  of  this  class  in  every 
part  of  the  State,  and  already  patients  have  been  received,  cared  for,  treated  and 
relieved,  from  the  counties  of  Kipley,  Jennings,  Blackford,  Franklin,  Miami,  Ma- 
rion, Floyd,  Morgan,  Tipton,  Vigo,  Wayne,  Warren,  Fountain,  Parke,  Putnam, 
Madison  and  Dearborn." 

It  is  the  expectation  of  the  society,  that  the  State  will  finally  make  appro- 
priate provision  for  this  class  of  its  helpless  population. 

Its  management  is  vested  in  a  Board  of  Directors,  an  Executive  Committee, 
and  the  following  officers : 

James  M.  Bay,  President ;  Barnabas  C.  Hobbs,  Addison  Daggy,  W.  P.  John- 
son, A.  L.  Koache,  Vice  Presidents  ;  William  H.  Turner,  Recording  Secretary  ; 
K.  H.  Boland,  Corresponding  Secretary  ;  John  C.  New,  Treasurer. 


RELIGIOUS. 

PROTESTANT   EPISCOPAL. 
CHRIST    CHUECH, 

Located  on  the  north-east  corner  of  Meridian  and  Circle  streets,  is  an  artistic  speci- 
men of  the  early  English,  or  plain-pointed,  architecture;  and  is,  as  all  edifices 
erected  to  the  worship  of  the  True  God  should  be,  true  throughout.  Where  it 
looks  like  stone,  it  is  stone  ;  even  to  the  mullions  of  the  windows.'  Its  floor  consists 
of  a  tower  porch,  nave,  and  shallow  north  and  south  transepts;  which,  together, 
will  seat  about  five  hundred  worshipers.  The  chancel — sixteen  feet  deep,  and 
raised  four  feet — is  lighted  by  a  triplet  window,  adorned  with  rich  glass,  filled  with 
Christian  symbols.  The  other  windows  of  the  Church,  many  being  memorial,  are 
less  elaborately  decorated.  The  altar — memorializing  the  one  perfect  and  sufficient 
sacrifice,  propitiation  and  atonement — is  prominent  in  position,  and  superior  in  orn- 
amentation. It  is  placed  high  against  the  east  wall  of  the  chancel.  The  font  is 
on  the  level  of  the  nave,  at  the  steps  of  the  chancel.  An  oaken  lecturn  stands  just 
outside  the  chancel,  on  the  north  side.  The  pulpit,  situated  at  the  left  side,  is  an 
octagonal  oaken  structure,  supported  on  a  pedestal,  all  plainly  but  handsomely  fin- 
ished. The  roof  is  open,  heavily  timbered,  and  the  ceiling  is  colored  with  ultra 
marine  blue. 

Outside,  the  whole  building  presents  a  beautiful,  true,  and  churchly  appear- 
ance, with  its  lancet,  triplet,  and  trefoil  windows,  appearing  along  the  side,  among 
the  buttresses,  and  up  in  the  gable  angles.  The  gray  lime-stone  walls,  well  laid  in 
irregular  shapes  and  varying  tints,  are  relieved  by  prominent  buttresses,  with 
water-sheds  and  caps,  high  above  the  eaves.  The  roof  is  of  blue  and  purple  slate, 
laid  in  square  and  octagonal  courses. 

The  chief  feature,  however,  of  the  building,  is  the  fine  tower  and  spire,  which 
occupies  the  south-west  angle,  and  is  the  centrally  prominent  object  in  the  city. 
The  tower  pfoper,  is  about  seventy-five  feet  high,  heavily  built,  and  boldly  but- 
tressed. Two  doors  open,  one  west,  and  the  other  south,  into  the  lower  story, 
forming  a  vestibule ;  the  one  south  being  decorated  with  appropriate  carvings  and 
inscriptions.  Windows  mark  the  stories  above,  until  four  bold  stone  gables  pierced 
by  triplets,  with  open  blinds,  complete  the  stone  work.  Within  the  last  story  a 
chime  of  nine  bells  is  placed,  which  ring  out  joyfully  or  plaintively,  in  the  success- 
ive seasons  of  festival  and  fast.  Above  the  stone-work  a  timber  octagonal  spire, 
slated  like  the  roof,  pierced  with  four  windows,  and  having  the  angles  covered 
with  a  moulding  of  galvanized  iron,  rises  sixty  feet  higher.  This  is  surmounted 
by  a  finial,  which  gives  the  name  of  the  Church  in  monogram.  It  is  formed  by  a 
combination  of  the  first  two  Greek  letters  in  the  name  of  CHRIST;  and  has  been 
since  early  in  the  fourth  century,  a  well  known  symbol  of  Christianity,  signifying 
"  Christ." 

The  parish  and  congregation  of  Christ  Church,  have  been  in  existence  nearly 
a  quarter  of  a  century.  The  Rev.  Melancthon  Hoyt,  first  resided  in  Indianapolis) 


IM  DIANAPOLIS  . 


RELIGIOUS. 

as*  a  Missionary  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  No  records  of  his  work  are 
preserved.  The  Rev.  Jehu  C.  Clay,  (late  Dr.  Clay,  of  Philadelphia,)  had  also  vis- 
ited the  place,  and  had  been  requested  to  settle,  after  Mr.  Hoyt  left.  The  Eev.  Mr. 
Pfeiffer,  had  preached  here  some  fourteen  years  before,  and  baptized  an  infant; 
and  the  Rev.  Henry  M.  Shaw,  had  also  appeared  here  as  an  Episcopal  Clergyman. 
On  the  4th  of  July,  1837,  the  Eev.  James  B.  Britton,  (now  of  Ohio,)  took  up  his 
residence  as  Missionary,  and  on  the  Sunday  following,  July  9th,  the  regular  servi- 
ces of  the  Church  in  Indianapolis,  commenced.  In  April,  1837,  a  few  persons 
started  a  movement,  which,  in  July,  of  that  year,  resulted  in  the  following  agree- 
ment and  association : 

"We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  affixed,  impressed  with  the  importance  of  the 
Christian  religion,  and  wishing  to  promote  its  holy  influence  in  the  hearts  and 
lives  of  ourselves,  our  families  and  our  neighbors,  do  hereby  associate  ourselves  to- 
gether, as  the  Parish  of  Christ  Church,  in  the  town  of  Indianapolis,  township  of 
Centre,  county  of  Marion,  State  of  Indiana,  and  by  so  doing,  do  recognize  the  ju- 
risdiction of  the  Missionary  Bishop  of  Indiana,  and  do  adopt  the  Constitution  and 
Canons  of  the  Protestant  Episcosal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America-" 

Indianapolis,  July,  13,  1837. 

(Signed  )— Joseph  M.  Moore,  D.  D.  Moore,  Chas.  W.  Cady,  T.  B.  Johnson,  Geo. 
W.  Mears,  Thomas  McOuat,  Janet  McOuat,  Wm.  Hannaman,  A.  St.  Clair,  Mrs. 
Browning,  Miss  Howell,  Miss  Gordon,  Mrs.  Riley,  Miss  Draker  Mrs.  Julia  A. 
McKenny,  G.  W.  Starr  and  Mrs.  Starr,  James  Morrisoa,  A.  &.  Willard,  M.  D. 
Willard,  Jas.  Dawson,  jr.,  Edward  J.  Dawson,  Jos.  Farbos,  Nancy  Farbos,  Joseph 
Norman,  Joanna  Norman,  Stewart  Crawford,  «Jno.  W.  Jones,  Edward  Boyd, 
Mrs.  Stevens. 

The  first  vestry,  elected  under  this  organization,  (21st  August,  1837,)  consisted 
of  five  persons,  to  wit : 

Arthur  St.  Clair,  Senior  Warden ;  Thos.  McOuat,  Junior  Warden ;  James 
Morrison,  Joseph  M.  Moore,  and  Wm.  Hannaman. 

On  the  7th  of  May,  1838,  the  corner  stone  of  the  Church  was  laid  by  the 
Rector,  and  the  work  progressed  with  such  rapidity  that  the  building  was  opened 
for  Divine  Worship  on  the  18th  of  November  following,  and  consecrated  Decem- 
ber 16,  by  the  Right  Reverend  Jackson  Kemper,  D.  D.,  Missionary  Bishop  of  Indi- 
ana and  Missouri.  This  church  was  a  plain,  but  neatly  finished  and  strongly 
built  Gothic  edifice,  of  wood,  which,  while  it  made  no  pretensions  to  architectural 
beauty,  was  very  far  superior  to  any  house  of  worship  then  erected  in  the  place, 
and,  undoubtedly,  gave  impulse  to  the  building  of  other  places  by  the  several  de- 
nominations, as  its  successor,  the  present  beautiful  Christ  Church,  did  again,  twenty 
years  later.  It  was,  indeed,  strange  as  it  may  seem  in  these  days  of  architecural 
taste,  considered  to  be  the  handsomest  church  in  Indiana ;  and  many  letters  were 
received,  from  various  parts  of  the  State,  requesting  drawings  of  the  "  spire,"  as 
it  was  called  ;  the  said  spire,  being  merely  a  belfry  stuck  upon  the  front  gable  of 
the  church.  This  building  stood  for  twenty  years,  and  was  removed  in  1857,  to 
make  room  for  the  new  church.  It  was  sold,  afterwards,  to  the  African  Methodist 
Congregation,  and  subsequently  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  succession  of  rectors  in  Christ  Church,  has  been  as  follows,  viz : 
Rev.  James  B.  Britton,  three  years,  from  1837  to  1840  r  Rev.  Moses  H.  Hunter, 
one  year,  form  1842  to  1843;    Rev.  Samuel  Lee  Johnson,  four  years,  from  1844  to- 
1848 ;    Rev.  Norman  W.  Camp,  D.  D.,  three  years,  from  1849  to  1852 ;  Rev.  Joseph 


204  BOLLOWAV'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

C.  Talbot,  seven  years,  from  1853  to  1860;  Rev.  Horace  Stringfellow,  Jr.,  two  and 
one-half  years,  from  1860  to  1863;  Rev.  Theodore  J.  Holcomb,  one  and  one-half 
years,  from  1863  to  1864;  Rev.  J.  P.  T.  Ingraham,  four  years,  from  1864  to  1868; 
Rev.  Benjamin  Franklin,  1868,  the  present  Rector. 

Of  these  all  are  living,  gave  one — the  Rev.  Samuel  Lee  Johnson,  who  died  in 
office. 

The  present  church  was  begun  and  nearly  completed  under  the  rectorship  of 
the  Rev.  Joseph  C.  Talbot,  D.  D.  (now  Assistant  Bishop  of  the  Diocese.) 

The  chime  of  bells  was  hung  in  the  spring  of  1861 ;  and  the  spire  erected  in 
the  autumn  of  1869. 

The  list  of  communicants  numbers  about  two  hundred  and  fifty.  On  the  15th 
of  October,  1569,  the  seats  in  this  church  were  declared  free;  and  reliance  for  sup- 
port is  made  successfully  upon  the  Sunday  offerings. 

The  Sabbath-School  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  has  about  two  hundred 
and  twenty-five  members. 

The  value  of  the  church  property  is  about  $70,000. 

SAINT   PAUL'S   CATHEDRAL. 

Location:     Coraer  of  Illinois  and  New  Tork  streets. 

This  parish  was  organized  on  the  10th  of  July,  1866,  a  vestry  elected,  and  the 
Rev.  Horace  Stringfellow,  Jr.,  called  to  the  rectorship.  For  a  brief  period,  begin- 
ing  September  2d,  1866,  the  regular  services  of  the  parish  were  held  in  Masonic 
Hall.  Meanwhile  the  present  church  site  was  purchased,  on  the  rear  of  which  a 
brick  chapel  was  erected.  The  first  services  in  the  chapel  were  held  on  Christmas 
day,  1866. 

The  erection  of  the  Cathedral  was  commenced  in  the  spiring  of  1867.  It  was 
opened  for  Divine  worship  at  the  meeting  of  the  Diocesan  Convention,  in  June, 
1868. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Stringfellow  resigned  the  rectorship,  in  Jane,  1869,  and  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Treadwell  Walden,  the  present  rector,  in  February,  1870. 

The  parish  was  organized  with  six  communicants ;  the  number  in  June,  1870, 
was  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven. 

The  dimensions  of  the  Cathedral  are  sixty-five  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet ; 
the  extreme  dimensions  of  the  entire  building,  sixty-five  by  one  hundred  and 
-eighty-three  feet 

The  style  of  the  architecture  is  the  rural  English  Gothic,  of  the  twelfth  cen- 
tury. The  exterior  aspects  of  the  building  are  striking,  and  well  illustrate  the 
•sharp,  bold,  outlines  and  details  of  the  Gothic  style.  Its  greatest  length  is  on  New 
York  street.  The  superior  elevation  of  the  roof  is  sixty  feet ;  and  the  height  of 
the  tower  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet. 

The  interior  of  the  Cathedral  consists  of  a  central  and  two  side  naves,  with 
three  aisles.  West  of  the  auditorium  is  the  baptismal  font  and  section  room.  In 
the  transept  are  the  chancel,  vestry-room,  library,  etc..  The  chancel,  thirty  by 
forty  feet,  containing  the  Bishop's  seat  and  sixteen  stalls,  is  very  elegant.  It  has 
fifteen  windows,  of  stained  glass,  and  is  artistically  ornamented  with  appropriate, 
emblematical  designs.  The  windows  of  the  auditorium  are  also  of  stained  glass, 
feut  less  ornamental  than  those  of  the  chancel.  The  window  of  the  baptismal  font 
Is  likewise  richly  ornamented.  The  ceiling  of  the  auditorium  is  of  the  ornamental 


>TT,  LPAQRS  GAUM 

INDIANAPOLIS. 


RELIGIOUS.  205 

open-roof  construction.      The   seating   capacity  of  the   auditorium  is  about  one 
thousand. 

,     The  principal  material  of  the  walls  is  brick,  tastefully  trimmed  with   dressed 
stone  and  Milwaukee  yellow  brick. 

The  Cathedral  is  furnished   with  a  splendid  organ,  worth  about  $8,000. 

From  Saint  Paul's  parish  has  sprung  a  flourishing  Mission  in  the  north-wes- 
tern portion  of  the  city,  elsewhere  spoken  of. 

The  vestry  is  composed  of  the  following:  W.  H.  Morrison  and  T.  A.  Hend- 
ricks,  Wardens  ;  Joseph  E.  McDonald,  John  M.  Lord,  E.  S.  Alvord,  John  W.  Mur- 
jihy,  David  E.  Snyder,  "W.  J.  Holliday,  and  J.  A.  Moore. 

The  Sabbath-School  is  in  a  prosperous  condition  ;  numbering,  (including  the 
Sunday  School  Mission,)  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  pupils. 

The  cost  of  Saint  Paul's  Cathedral,  and  value  of  site,  are  about  $75,000. 

GRACE     CHBRCH. 

Location :     Corner  of  Pennsylvania  and  St.  Joseph  streets. 

This  parish  was  organized  in  January,  1854.  The  membership  of  Christ 
Church,  having  become  very  large,  and  it  being  believed  that  there  was  a  field  for 
a  new  enterprise,  Messrs.  Deloss  Root,  J  O.  D.  Lilly,  and  Nelson  Kingman,  with 
their  families,  withdrew,  and  organized  the  present  parish  of  Grace  Church. 

The  present  house  of  worship  of  the  parish  was  built  without  delay,  and 
dedicated  in  the  summer  of  1854.  Shortly  afterward,  the  Rev.  M.  V.  Averill,  was 
called  to  the  rectorship  of  the  parish,  who  remained  about  two  and  a-half  years. 
Mr.  Averill  was  an  energetic,  as  well  an  able  rector;  and  the  prosperity  of 
the  parish  during  his  rectorship,  is  attested  by  the  fact  that  in  that  period,  the 
number  of  communicants  increased  from  ten  to  sixty.  Mr.  Averill  was  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  C.  E.  Davidson,  who  remained  with  the  parish  about  three  years  j 
at  the  end  of  which  time  the  number  of  communicants  waa  about  seventy-five. 
Dr.  Davidson  retired  on  the  10th  of  October,  1870.  For  several  months  the  parish 
was  without  a  rector.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1871,  the  Rev.  James  Runcie  was 
called  to  the  rectorship;  who  entered  upon  bis  duties  on  the  1st  of  March,  1871. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  about  aeventy-five. 

The  Sabbath-School,  of  which  George  W.  Geiger,  Esq.,  is  Superintendent,  has 
one  hundred  and  ten  members. 

The  church  edifice  is  a  frame  building,  of  the  modified  Gothic  style,  and  is 
particularly  neat  and  tasteful  in  its  ensemble,  finish,  and  appointments.  It  is 
doubtful  if  at  a  like  expense,  a  better  effect  in  respect  of  a  house  of  worship, 
could  be  produced.  The  aspects  of  the  interior  are  inviting  and  suggestive  of 
comfort.  The  windows  are  of  stained  glass;  the  ceiling,  of  the  open-roofed  con- 
struction. The  chancel,  in  the  ornamentation  of  its  triple  windows,  and  its  ap- 
pointments, is  artistic ;  the  symbols  typifyng,  with  fine  effect,  the  idea  expressed 
in  the  name,  Grace  Church.  The  church  has  a  fine  organ. 

The  value  of  the  building  and  site,  is  about  §11,000. 

CHURCH   OF    THE    HOI/T   INNOCENTS. 

Location  :     Corner  of  Fletcher  avenue  and  Cedar  street. 

This  parish  was  organized  as  a  "  Mission  Sunday  School  of  Christ  Church," 
in  July,  1866,  at  the  residence  of  James  Meade,  No.  50,  Forest  avenue,  by  Rev.  C. 
C«  Tate,  Assistant  Minister  of  Christ  Church.  The  attendance  upon  the  services 


2Q6  HOLLO WA  r 8  INDIANAPOLIS. 

of  the  young  society  augumented  to  such  an  extent,  that  increased  accommodations 
soon  became  necessary.  Steps  were  accordingly  taken  to  build  a  chapel  on  the 
north-east  corner  of  Fletcher  avenue  and  Cedar  street,  which  had  been  donated  for 
that  purpose  by  S.  A.  Fletcher,  Jr.  The  required  amount  for  building  the  chapel, 
$1,800,  was  raised  by  the  members  of  Christ  Church — mainly  through  the  exertions 
of  the  Rev.  C  0.  Tate,  and  of  that  earnest  worker,  the  Rev.  J.  P.  T.  Ingraham, 
Rector  of  Christ  Church,  who  was  the  moving  spirit  of  the  enterprise. 

The  chapel,  in  size,  twenty-five  by  forty  feet,  beside  the  chancel  and  robing- 
roorn,  was  opened  for  public  worship  on  the  afternoon  of  the  Epiphany  Sunday, 
January,  6,  1867,  the  services  being  conducted  by  the  Revs.  J.  P.  T.  Ingraham  and 
C.  C.  Tate.  The  singing  exercises  were  assisted  by  a  cabinet  organ,  the  gift  of 
Miss  C.  J.  Farrell.  The  chapel  then  took  the  name  of  the  Ho ly  Itmocenls.  Reg- 
ular afternoon  services  were  held  by  Rev.  Mr.  Tate,  until  the  following  July,  when 
he  resigned  as  Assistant  Minister  of  Christ  Church,  to  accept  the  Rectorship  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Columbus,  Ohio.  At  the  latter  date,  Mr.  Willis  D.  Engle,  was 
elected  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School,  the  afternoon  services  'being  con- 
ducted by  the  Rev.  J.  P.  T.  Ingraham,  assisted  by  a  lay-reader.  During  this 
time  the  chapel  building  was  further  improved  through  the  exertions  of  the  few 
who  labored  there. 

January  1st,  1868,  the  Rev.  George  B.  Engle,  as  Assistant  Minister  of  Christ 
Church,  took  charge  of  the  Mission,  and  continued  to  serve  in  that  capacity,  until 
January  4th,  1869,  when,  with  the  consent  of  the  Bishop,  and  the  concurrence  of 
the  other  parishes  in  the  city,  the  'Church  of  the  Holy  Innocents  was  organized,  with 
a  membership  of  about  thirty.  The  first  ofBcers  of  the  Church  were : 

A.  Willis  Gorrell,  Senior  "Warden ;  William  A.  Taylor,  Junior  Warden ; 
Ansel  B.  Denton,  George  Davidson,  Daniel  S.  Moulton,  David  B.  Hunt,  Edwin 
Vickers,  Thomas  V.  Cook,  and  Willis  D.  Engle,  Vestrymen  ;  Willis  D.  Engle, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

A  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  George  B.  Engle  to  become  the  rector  of  the 
church,  and  was  accepted. 

On  Easter  Monday,  March  29th,  1869,  the  same  officers  were  re-elected,  except 
John  Boawell,  whose  place  as  vestryman,  was  filled  by  the  election  of  Joseph 
Thompson.  Willis  D.  Engle  was  elected  as  delegate  to  represent  the  parish  in  the 
Diocesan  Convention. 

On  Easter  Monday,  April  10th,  1871,  the  following  officers  were  elected: 

A.  Willis  Gorrell,  Senior  Warden;  William  A.  Taylor,  Junior  Warden; 
Ansel  B.  Denton,  John  Algeo,  George  Davidson,  D.  B.  Hunt,  James  Meade,  Daniel 
S.  Moulton,  and  Willis  D.  Engle,  Vestrymen.  Willis  D.  Engle,  Secretary  ;  William 
A.  Taylor,  Treasurer ;  and  Willis  D.  Engle,  delegate  to  represent  the  Parish  in  the 
Diocesan  Convention. 

During  the  fall  of  last  year,  considerable  expenditures  were  made  in  improve- 
ments on  the  church  building,  in  neatly  inclosing  it,  and  in  adorning  the  grounds 
with  shrubbery  and  shade  trees. 

The  membership  at  this  time  is  about  sixty.  The  Sunday-School  numbers 
eighteen  teachers,  and  one  hundred  and  forty  pupils.  The  seats  are  all  free.  The 
rector's  salary  is  paid  by  subscription,  and  the  current  expenses  by  the  offertory. 

EPISCOPAL   MISSION. 

A  flourishing  Mission,  sustained  by  St.  Paul's  Parish,  has  been  established  in 
the  north-western  part  of  the  city,  A  suitable  site  has  been  purchased ;  and  du- 


RELIGIOUS.  207 

ring  the  present  year,  Saint  Paul's  Chapel  (Second)  will  be  completed ;  the  site  and 
building  to  cost  about  $5,000. 

Pending  the  appointment  of  an  Assistant  Minister  of  Saint  Paul's  the  Mission 
will  continue  to  be  served  by  the  Rector,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Walden ;  who  conducts  its 
regular  religious  services  every  Thursday  evening,  in  the  temporary  building 
occupied  by  the  Mission.  Of  Sundays  its  members  attend  the  services  in  Saint 
Paul's  Cathedral. 

The  Sabbath-School,  of  which  Mr.  S.  R.  Lippencott,  is  Superintendent,  and 
•  Mrs.  Harriet  Preston,  Lady  Manager,  is  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

Summary. —  Total  membership  of  the  Episcopal  denomination,  in  Indianapolis, 
five  hundred  and  eighty-two;  total  Sabbath-School  membership,  seven  hundred 
and  forty-three;  total  value  of  church  property,  $168,000. 

PRESBYTERIAN. 

FIRST   CHURCH. 

Location:     Corner  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  York  streets. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  is  one  of  the  religious  landmarks  of  this  city,  and 
with  its  early  history  is  associated  the  early  history  of  Presbyterianism  in  this 
State.  The  foundation  of  this  church  society  was  half  a  century  ago,  when  this 
was  the  "  Far  West,"  and  when  the  church  was  following  closely  in  the  foot- 
steps of  pioneer  civilization.  Of  those  who  took  an  active  part  in  the  organi- 
zatidn  of  this  church  there  yet  remain  a  very  few  to  tell  the  story  of  its  early 
history. 

In  1820,  the  future  city  of  Indianapolis  was  mapped  out  and  its  lots  offered 
for  sale.  In  August  of  1821  Rev.  Ludlow  G-.  Gaines  preached  the  first  Presby- 
terian sermon  in  the  city,  in  a  grove  south  of  the  present  State  House  square.  In 
1822,  Rev.  David  C.  Proctor,  of  Connecticut,  was  engaged  as  a  missionary  for  one 
year. 

In  1823  a  subscription  of  $1,200  was  raised  and  a  house  of  worship  erected  on 
Pennsylvania  street,  near  the  corner  of  Market.  On  the  5th  of  July  of  the  same 
year,  a  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  and  the  names  of  fifteen  members 
enrolled. 

In  1842,  a  second  house  of  worship  was  erected,  on  the  corner  of  Market  and 
Circle  streets,  at  a  cost  of  $8,300,  and  on  the  6th  of  May,  1843,  it  was  dedicated. 

In  1864,  the  foundations  of  the  present  church  edifice  were  laid.  The  chapel, 
containing  a  lecture  room,  a  social  room,  Sabbath-School  rooms  and  pastor's  study, 
was  erected  and  opened  for  service  in  1866.  The  present  audience  room  was 
opened  for  service  December  29th,  1870. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  society  in  1823,  a  period  of  nearly  47  years, 
the  congregation  has  built  three  church  edifices  and  one  mission  church — now 
the  Seveuth  Presbyterian  Church — and  has  had  the  following  pastors :  Rev.  Geo. 
Bush,  Rev.  John  R.  Moreland,  Rev.  James  W.  McKennan,  Rev.  Phineas  D.  Gur- 
ley,  D.  D.,  Rev.  John  A.  McClung,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Thomas  Cunningham,  D.  D.,  Rev. 
J.  Howard  Nixon,  and  Rev.  R.  D.  Harper,  D.  D.  Dr.  Harper  recently  resigned  the 
pastorate  to  accept  a  call  from  Philadelphia,  and  the  church  authorities  have  not, 
at  this  writing,  selected  his  successor. 

The  only  surviving  pastors  are  Rev.  Dr.  Cunningham,  of  San  Francisco;  Rev. 

J.  Howard  Nixon,  of  Springfield,  Missouri,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Harper,  of  Philadelphia. 

At  different  intervals  the  following  persons  have  served  the  church  with  great 


208  HOLLOWAT8   INDIANAPOLIS. 

acceptance  as  stated  supply:  Kev.  Ludlow  G.  Gaines.  Rev.  David  C.  Proctor, 
Rev.  Isaac  Reed,  Rev.  William  A.  Holliday,  Rev.  Samuel  Fulton,  Rev.  Charles  S. 
Mills  and  Rev.  J.  P.  Dripps. 

The  following  persons  have  served  as  elders  in  this  church  from  its  organization 
until  the  present  time:  Dr.  Isaac  Coe,  Caleb  Scudder,  John  Johnson,  Ebenezer 
Sharpe,  John  G.  Brown,  Col.  James  Blake,  Hon.  Samuel  Bigger,  George  S.  Bran- 
don, Charles  Axtell,  H.  C.  Newcomb,  James  M.  Ray  Thomas  H.  Sharpe.  William 
Sheeto,  Thomas  Mclntire,  General  Benjamin  Harrison,  Myron  A.  Stowell  and  Wil- 
liam R.  Craig. 

In  December,  1838,  fifteen  members  of  this  church  were  granted  letters  of  dis- 
mission to  organize  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  this  city;  and  in  1851, 
thirteen  years  subsequently,  letters  of  dismission  were  granted  to  twenty-one  per- 
sons, including  three  Elders,  Caleb  Scudder,  James  Blake  and  H.  C.  Newcomb,  to 
organize  the  Third  Presbyterian  Church  of  this  city.  These  little  bands,  who  sep- 
arated from  the  parent  society,  have  grown  into  full,  well-equipped  organizations, 
and  are  doing  good  service  in  the  cause  of  Christianity. 

The  church  has  a  membership  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  one.  The  Sabbath- 
School  has  four  hundred  and  twenty-five  members.  The  principal  officers  of  the 
church  are: 

Ruling  Elders — James  M.  Ray,  Thos.  H.  Sharpe,  Wm.  Sheets,  Thos.  Mcln- 
tire, M.  A.  Stowell,  Benj.  Harrison,  Robert  Browning,  James  W.  Brown,  Jere.  Mc- 
Lene,  Issac  C.  Hays,  H.  L.  Walker,  A.  M.  Benham. 

Deacons — Wm.  J.  Johnston,  J.  A.  Vinnedge,  Henry  D.  Carlisle,  E.  P.  Howe, 
Carlos  Dickson,  Charles  Latham. 

Trustees — E.  B.  Martindale,  Robert  Browning,  James  W.  Brown,  William 
Braden,  Upton  J.  Hammond.  Superintendent  of  Sabbath  School,  E.  B.  Martin- 
dale. 

The  church  edifice  is  in  the  Gothic  style  of  architecture/  and  is  an  artistic  and 
elegant  structure.  The  main  building,  sixty  by  one  hundred  feet,  fronts  on  Penn- 
sylvania street;  and  in  the  rear,  on  New  York  street,  is  the  chapel  building,  fifty 
by  seventy-five  feet.  The  audience  room,  in  its  design  and  appointments,  is  one 
of  the  finest  in  the  country.  Its  pews  are  arranged  in  curved  lines;  the  windows 
are  of  beautiful  stained  glass;  the  ceiling  is  very  ornamental,  "rafter  finished," 
and  finely  frescoed.  The  tower  is  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  feet  in  height. 

The  building  is  built  of  pressed  brick,  trimmed  with  dressed  stone.  The 
chapel  is  divided  into  three  rooms:  two  for  social  meetings,  and  one  for  the  pastor's 
study.  The  second  story  contains  the  Sabbath-School  room.  The  dimensions  of  the 
building  are  sixty-five  by  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  feet.  The  cost  of  building 
and  site  was  $104,117.74. 

•     SECOND   PRESBYTEBIAN   CHURCH. 

Location:    Corner  of  Pennsylvania  and  Vermont  streets. 

The  materials  for  the  ensuing  sketch  of  this  organization  have  been  chiefly 
obtained  from  a  discourse  preached  at  the  opening  of  the  present  chapel,  by  Rev. 
Hanford  A.  Edson,  the  pastor. 

The  society  was  formed,  with  fifteen  members,  November  19,  1838,  in  the 
Marion  County  Seminary,  a  small  brick  building  standing,  until  1860,  at 
the  south-west  corner  of  University  Square.  The  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  the 
first  pastor,  entered  upon  his  work  July  31st,  1839.  Worship  was  continued  in 


RELIGIOUS,  209 

the  Seminary  for  a  year.  Afterward  the  congregation  removed  to  their  own  edi- 
fice, the  present  High  School  building,  on  the  north-west  corner  of  Circle  and 
Market  streets,  occupying  at  first  the  lecture-room.  This  house  was  dedicated  to 
the  worship  of  the  Most  High,  October  4th,  1840.  On  th3  19th  of  September,  1847, 
the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Beecher  closed,  and  he  removed  to  Brooklyn,  New  York,  where 
he  has  since  gained  the  reputation  as  a  pulpit  orator,  with  which  the  world  is 
familiar.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Clement  E.  Babb,  at  the  time  a  student  in 
Lane  Seminary,  now  associate  editor  of  the  Herald  a* d  Presbyter,  of  Cincinnati. 
He  commenced  work  May  7th,  1848,  and  continued  in  the  pastorate  until  January 
1st,  1853.  It  was  under  his  supervision  that  a  colony,  now  the  Fourth  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  was  established,  with  twenty-four  members.  This  occurred  Novem- 
ber 30th,  1851.  The  third  pastor,  Rev  Thornton  A.  Mills,  began  his  work  Janu- 
ary 1st,  1854,  and  remained  with  the  Church  three  years,  the  relation  between  pas- 
tor and  people,  being  dissolved  by  the  Presbytery,  February  9th,  1857.  Dr.  Mills 
having  been  elected  Secretary  of  the  General  Assembly's  Committee  on  Educa- 
tion, went  at  once  to  New  York.  He  is  the  only  one  of  the  pastors  of  the  Church 
not  now  living.  He  died  suddenly  June  19th,  1867.  Rev.  Goorge  P.  Tindall  was 
his  successor,  called  to  the  pastorate  August  6th,  1857,  and  continuing  in  the  field 
until  September  27th,  1863.  During  his  ministry,  in  1858  and  1859,  large  numbers 
were  added  to  the  Church.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Han  ford  A.  Edson,  has  oc- 
cupied the  place  since  January  17th,  1864.  On  the  15th  of  May  of  that  year,  a 
building  was  dedicated  at  the  corner  of  Michigan  and  Blackford  streets  for  a  Mis- 
sion Sunday  School,  which  had  been  established  by  members  of  the  Second  Church, 
and  which  has  now  grown  into  the  "  Fifth  Presbyterian  Church."  November  20th, 
1867,  another  colony,  the  "Olivet  Presbyterian  Church,"  was  formed  with  twenty- 
one  members,  a  house  of  worship  having  been  dedicated  for  them  a  month  pre- 
vious. 

For  the  beautiful  stone  edifice  at  the  corner  of  Pennsylvania  and  Vermont 
streets,  of  which  we  present  an  engraving,  ground  was  broken  in  the  spring  of 
1864.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  May  14th,  1866;' the  chapel  occupied  December 
22d,  1867;  and  the  completed  edifice  dedicated  January  9th,  1870.  Mr.  Joseph 
Curzon,  of  this  city  is  the  architect.  The  entire  cost  of  the  property  is  about 
$105,000.  The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  considerably  above  four  hun- 
dred. The  Sabbath-School  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  has  three  hundred  pu- 
pils enrolled. 

Be?ides  the  pastor,  the  officers  of  the  society  are  as  follows: 

Ruling  Elders. — William  N.  Jackson,    Samuel  F.  Smith,    Enoch  C.  Mayhew, 
Edwin  J.  Peck,  John  S.  Spann,  William  S.  Hubbard,  Thomas  A.  Morris,  Moses  R. . 
Barnard,  and  Frederick  W.  Chislett. 

Deacons. — Sandford  Morris,  Edward  S.  Field,  Clement  A.  Greenleaf,  George 
W.  Crane,  William  W.  Wentz,  Richard  M.  Smock,  David  W.  Coffin,  and  Willis 
H.  Pettit. 

Trustees. — William  P.  Fishback,  William  M.  Wheatley,  John  S.  Spann,  James 
M.  Bradshaw,  and  William  Mansur. 

The  church  edifice  is  massive  and  imposing.  It  is  built,  from  foundation  to 
ipire,  of  rubble  limestone;  the  corners,  buttresses,  and  other  projecting  angles, 
being  artistically  faced  with  dressed  stone.  Its  architecture  is  the  Gothic  style  of 
the  twelfth  century.  The  auditorium  is  seventy-eight  feet  in  length  by  fifty- 
seven  feet  in  width ;  thirty-seven  feet  high  in  the  center,  and  twenty-six  and 
one-half  feet  at  the  side  walls ;  with  a  recess  for  the  choir  twelve  by  thirty-two 
(14) 


210  HOLLOW  ATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

feet,  and  another  for  the  pulpit,  five  by  fourteen  feet.  The  ceiling  is  finished  in 
ash  and  black  walnut;  with  plastered  panels  separated  by  stucco  mouldings.  The 
pews,  pulpit,  and  other  wood  work,  in  the  interior,  are  also,  richly  finished  in  wal- 
nut and  ash.  The  windows  are  highly  ornamented.  The  chapel,  session  room, 
and  pastor's  study,  are  in  keeping  with  the  elegance  of  the  auditorium;  as  is,  also, 
the  Sabbath- School  room,  now  in  the  second  story.  The  auditorium  is  lighted  by 
silvered  reflectors.  The  main  tower  is  one  hundred  and  sixty-one  and  one-half  feet 
in  height,  and  eighteen  feet  square  at  the  base.  A  smaller  tower  at  the  entrance 
to  the  chapel,  is  ninety-five  and  one-half  feet  in  height.  Without,  the  structure  is 
massive  and  artistic;  within,  it  is  elegantly  and  tastefully  finished  and  furnished. 

THIRD   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

Location  :     Northeast  corner  of  Illinois  and  Ohio  streets. 

This  church  was  organized  on  the  23d  September,  1851,  at  the  residence 
of  Caleb  Scudder,  Esq.,  in  this  city,  by  the  Presbyttry  of  Muncie;  twenty-one 
person  withdrawing  for  the  purpose  from  the  First  Church. 

Prominent  among  the  founders  of  this  association  were  James  Blake,  Caleb 
Scudder,  John  W.  Hamilton,  H.  C.  Newcomb,  Nathaniel  Bolton,  Dr.  W.  C.  Thomp- 
son and  C.  B.  Davis.  The  congregation  first  met  for  religious  worship  in  Tem- 
perance Hall ;  and  afterward  erected  the  present  church  building,  which  was  com- 
pleted and  dedicated  in  1859. 

The  Third  Church  has  for  many  years  been  a  prominent  religious  power  in  the 
community.  Its  present  membership  is  four  hundred  and  fifty.  The  Sabbath- 
school  numbers  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  pupils. 

In  1867  a  colony  went  out  from  this  congregation  and  formed  the  Fifth  Pres- 
byterian Church;  which  has  since  been  sustained  in  part  by  the  parent  church. 

The  Third  Church  has  had  the  following  pastors:  The  Rev.  David  Stevenson, 
from  1851  to  October,  1860;  the  Kev.  George  C.  Heckman,  D.  D.,  from  1861  to 
1867;  the  Rev.  Robert  Sloss,  the  present  pastor,  since  June,  1868. 

Prominent  among  the  earlier  members  and  oflicers  of  this  church  are  the 
names  of  James  Blake,  Caleb  Scudder,  Hon.  H.  C.  Newcomb.  John  W.  Hamilton, 
Chas.  N.  Todd,  Dr.  W.  0.  Thompson,  the  Rev.  C.  G.  McLean,  D.  D.,  Wm.  M.  Blake, 
William  Stewart,  Silas  T.  Bowen,  Dr.  Theophilus  Parvin,  J.  D.  Carmichael,  L.  N. 
Andrews,  "William  Glenn  and  H.  W.  Keehn. 

The  church  edifice,  though  not  so  imposimg  or  elegant  in  its  architectural  as- 
pects, as  several  others  in  the  city,  is  nevertheless  a  commodious  and  substantial 
structure,  built  of  brick,  with  stone  facings,  in  the  modified  Norman  style  of  archi- 
tecture. Its  external  dimensions  are  eighty  by  forty-eight  feet.  The  size  of  the 
audience  room  is  eeventy-one  by  forty-five  feet;  and  it  has,  including  the  gallery, 
seating  capacity  for  about  six  hundred  persons.  The  value  of  the  property  is 
about  $50,000. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  are : 

Pastor. — Rev.  Robert  Sloss. 

Elders.— H.  C.  Newcomb.  S.  T.  Bowen,  J.  D.  Carmichael,  Dr.  T.  Parvin,  C.  N. 
Todd,  L  N.  Andrews,  A.  S.  Walker. 

Deacons.— James  Muir,  James  Wilson,  Wm.  M.  Blake,  Chas.  G.  Stewart,  D.  H. 
Wiles,  R.  Frank  Kennedy,  Wm.  Judson.  James  D.  Brown. 

Trustees.— Thos.  D.  Kingan,  W.  W.  Woollen,  D.  H.  Wiles,  R.  F.  Kennedy,  Wm. 
Judson,  James  Hasson,  Frank  Landers. 


KELIGIOUS. 


Location :     Corner  of  Delaware  and  Market  streets. 

The  Fourth  Presbyterian  Church  was  formed  by  a  colony  from  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church. 

On  the  30th  of  November,  1851,  twenty-four  members  of  the  latter  society 
withdrew  by  letters,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  organize  under  the  name  of  the 
Fourth  Presbyterian  Church  of  Indianapolis.  Two  elders  were  elected,  Alexander 
Graydon  and  Samuel  Merrill.  A  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  George  M.  Max- 
well, of  Marietta,  Ohio,  with  the  offer  of  a  salary  of  $800.  The  call  was  accepted, 
and  Mr.  Maxwell  commenced  his  services  as  pastor  early  in  the  year  1852. 

After  nearly  six  years  of  struggle,  the  society,  on  the  13th  of  September,  1857, 
was  enabled  to  dedicate  the  present  house  of  worship  to  Divine  service.  The  num- 
ber of  members  at  that  date  was  one  hundred  and  fifteen. 

In  the  spring  of  1858  a  religious  revival  resulted  in  a  large  increase  of  the 
membership. 

In  November,  1858,  Mr.  Maxwell's  health  failing,  he  resigned,  much  to  the 
regret  of  his  congregation. 

In  October,  1859,  the  Rev.  A.  L.  Brooks  received  a  unanimous  call,  which  he 
accepted,  at  a  salary  of  $1,500.00,  and  commenced  his  labors  immediately.  Rev. 
Mr.  Brooks  labored  with  the  church  until  March,  1862,  when  he  accepted  a  call 
from  Chicago. 

In  July,  1862,  the  Kev.  Charles  H.  Marshall  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastorate 
of  the  Fourth  Church.  His  salary,  at  first  $1,000,  was  gradually  increased  during 
his  stay  to  $2,500. 

Many  additions  were  made  to  the  church  during  the  revival  of  1869. 

In  October,  1870,  Mr.  Marshall  was  compelled  by  failing  health  to  sever  his. 
pastoral  relation  with  the  church,  to  the  general  regret  of  the  membership.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  the  war  for  the  Union  began  and  ended;  and  at  one  time  the 
Fourth  Church  demonstrated  its  patriotism  by  sending  to  the  field  not  only  its  pas- 
tor, as  chaplain,  but  some  forty  of  its  young  men. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1871,  Mr.  Marshall  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  J.  H. 
Morron,  of  Peoria,  Illinois,  the  present  pastor. 

The  church  membership  numbers  one  hundred  and  eighty-five;  that  of  the  Sab- 
bath-Schools, about  one  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

The  church  edifice  presents  a  somewhat  ancient  and  time-worn  aspect  exter- 
nally. It  is  quite  commodious,  having  seating  accommodations  for  about  six  hun- 
dred persons.  The  building  is  of  stuccoed  brick,  and  is  surmounted  by  a  high 
tower.  The  value  of  the  property  is  about  $50,000,  and  it  is  free  of  debt. 

The  elders  of  the  church  since  its  organization  have  been : 

Alexander  Graydon,  Samuel  Merrill,  Horace  Bassett,  John  L.  Ketcham,  Henry 
S.  Kellogg,  Alexander  H.  Davidson,  Charles  W.  Moores,  David  Kregelo,  Robert 
Evans,  Emanuel  Haugh,  John  McKeehan,  Samuel  Merrill,  J.  H.  Brown,  Robert 
M.  Stewart.  Col.  Samuel  Merrill  is  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-schools. 

The  officers  for  the  current  year  are : 

Elders. — David  Kregelo,  Robert  Evans,  John  McKeehan,  Samuel  Merrill, 
Robert  Stewart,  James  H.  Brown. 

Deacons. — William  H.  Comingor,  Joseph  R.  Haugh,  Hervey  Bates,  John  L. 
Ketcham,  Robert  W.  Cathcart,  Daniel  W.  Grubbs. 

Trustees. — Wm.  A.  Bradshaw,  Joseph  K.  Sharpe,  David  Kregelo,  Joseph  R, 
Haugh,  John  D.  Condit. 


212  HOLLOW  ATS'  INDIANAPOZIS. 

FIFTH    CHURCH. 

Location :  East  side  of  Blackford  street,  between  Vermont  and  Michigan1 
streets. 

A  frame  chapel,  erected  on  the  above  stated  site  in  1864,  for  the  purposes  of 
a  Mission  Sabbath-School,  waa  purchased  in  the  autumn  of  1866,  by  the  Third 
Church,  into  whose  control  the  School  then  passed.  In  October,  1867,  it  wag  or- 
ganized by  the  authority  of  the  Indiana-polls  Presbytery,  as  the  Fifth  Presbyterian 
Church,  with  eighteen  members :  twelve  from  the  Third,  and  one  from  the  First 
Presbyterian  Churches-  of  this  city,  and  five  from  churches  elsewhere  located. 
The  exercises  incident  to  the  organization  were  conducted  by  Kevs.  George  C. 
Heckman,  L.  G.  Hay,  W.  W.  Sickles ;  and  Elders  James  Blake  and  Charles  N. 
Todd. 

The  first,  only,  and  present  pastor  of  the  society,  is  the  Rev.  William  B, 
Chamberlain,  who  began  his  labors  as  such  in  the  summer  of  1869 ;  was  ordained 
in  October  of  that  year,  and  installed  in  October,  1870. 

The  chapel  is  a  frame  building;  coat,  with  site,  $2,000;  and  will  seat  two 
hundred  persons. 

The  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  society  have  been  such  as  to  demand  and 
warrant  a  better  and  more  commodious  house  of  worship.  For  this  purpose  a 
desirable  site  has  been  secured  on  the  south-west  corner  of  Michigan  and  Black- 
ford  streets;  where  excavation  is  now  being  made  for  a  new  building,  to  be  of 
brick,  cruciform,  with  a  fine  tower;  having  a  basement  for  Sabbath-School  and 
other  purposes;  and  an  audience  room  with  a  capacity  to  seat  four  hundred  and 
fifty  persons.  The  cost  of  the  new  structu-re  will  be  from  $12,000  to  $15,000.  The 
society  expect  to  occupy  the  basement  by  the  fall  of  1872,  and  hope  to  complete 
the  building  within  two  or  three  years. 

The  number  of  members  is  about  one  hundred  and  fifty.  The  Sabbath-School 
has  two  hundred  and  ftfty  members. 

OLIVET     CHURCH. 

Location :     Corner  of  Union  and  McCarty  streets. 

This  church  was  established  by  a  colony  from  the  Second  Church.  A  few 
members  of  the  parent  body,  met  with  their  pastor,  on  the  22nd  of  June,  1867, 
and  instructed  a  committee  to  buy  a  suitable  site  in  the  south-western  quarter 
of  the  city.  The  corner  of  Union  and  McCarty  streets  was  selected  for  that  pur- 
pose ;  the  present  church  building  was  erected  without  delay,  and  was  dedicated 
on  the  20th  of  October,  of  the  same  year,  by  the  Kev.  H.  A.  Edson,  pastor  of  the 
Second  Church.  On  the  20th  of  November,  1867,  a  church  organization  was 
effected.  The  first  pastor  was  the  Kev.  J.  B.  Brandt;  the  second  the  Rev.  Lnman 
A.  Aldrich;  the  third,  and  present,  the  Rev.  Joseph  E.  Scott.  The  house  of  wor- 
ship is  a  plain,  comfortable  frame  building.  The  property  is  valued  at  $2,500,  and 
is  free  from  debt.  The  Church  membership  numbers  over  one  hundred  persons  ; 
that  of  the  Sunday-School  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five. 

SEVENTH   CHURCH. 

Location :     Elm  streetr  near  Cedar. 

Originally  established  as  a  mission  enterprise,  by  the  First  Church,  and  in  its 
infancy  conducted  and  sustained  by  the  parent  body,  the'  Seventh  Church  has 


RELIGIOUS.  213 

mow  about  attained  the  stature  of  a  full  grown  and  self-sustaining  organization; 
able  and  entitled  to  manage  its  own  affairs.  Of  the  maxim  that  "  Christianity  is 
the  greatest  civilizer,"  the  results  of  this  enterprise  are  a  triumphant  exemplifi- 
cation. 

One  Sabbath  day,  early  in  the  year  1865,  Wm.  R.  Craig,  a  resident  of  the  south- 
eastern part  of  the  city,  was  much  disturbed  by  a  rude  and  lawless  troop  of  boys,  out- 
rageously wanting  in  that  training  which  inspires  a  decent  respect  for  the  Sabbath 
day.  Their  repeated  and  flagrant  violations  of  the  Sabbath,  and  unruly  conduct 
generally,  had  often  outraged  the  feelings  of  the  staid  old  Scotchman,  but  never  to 
such  a  degree  as  oa  this  occasion;  and  now,  for  the  first  time,  he  began  to  seriously 
debate  with  himself  the  question  of  a  remedy.  He  thought  of  applying  to  the  po- 
lice; and  then  dismissed  that  recourse,  as  being  an  inadequate  measure  of  relief, 
and  not  sufficiently  radical.  Finally  he  decided  that  a  Sabbath-School,  by  reach- 
ing the  consciences  of  the  offenders,  -would,  in  the  course  of  time,  effect  a  thor- 
ough and  lasting  cure.  Mr.  Craig,  who  was  a  member  of  the  First  Church,  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  prepare  for  the  application  of  his  remedy. 

The  pastor  and  elders  of  that  church  concurred  in  his  proposition,  and  called 
a  meeting  of  the  pastors  and  elders  of  the  four  principal  Presbyterian  churches, 
to  consult  upon  apian  for  opening  the  campaign;  a  meeting  of  the  officers  and 
pastors  of  the  First  and  Third  Churches  was  shortly  afterward  held  to  consider 
the  question ;  and  finally  it  was  agreed  that  the  First  Church  should  take  suitable 
steps  to  provide  spiritual  instruction  for  the  south-eastern  quarter  of  the  city.  Wm. 
R.  Craig  and  N.  M.  Wood  were  shortly  afterward  appointed  a  committee  to  estab- 
lish a  Sabbath-school  there;  for  defraying  the  expenses  .of  which  work  of  organi- 
zation, $180  was  voted.  A  room  in  an  old  carpenter  shop,  belonging  to  Peter  Rou- 
tier,  on  Cedar  street,  was  rented  for  the  purpose.  The  school  was  organized  by 
Messrs.  W.  K.  Craig  and  Thomas  Mclntire,  and  successfully  conducted  through  the 
.summer  ef  1865  under  the  superintendence  of  N.  M.  Wood,  Esq. 

Tbe  rude  building  then  occupied  by  the  mission  proving  too  small  and  uncom- 
fortable for  the  purpose,  it  was  decided  to  erect  a  suitable  building  for  Sabbath- 
School  and  other  religious  services.  Through  the  exertions  of  James  M.  Ray,  a 
member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  a  site  was  secured  in  Fletcher's  Addi- 
tion, donated  by  Calvin  Fletcher,  Sr.,  A  Stone,  W.  S.  Witt,  Elisha  Taylor  and 
James  M.  Hough.  The  Board  of  Church  Extension  pledged  $500  to  aid  in  the 
erection  of  a  building,  and  the  First  Church  took  upon  itself  the  responsibility  of 
seeing  to  it  that  the  new  enterprise  should  not  fail.  To  this  end  Elder  Thomas 
Mclntire  and  James  W.  Brown,  Esq.,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  superintend  the 
work  of  erecting  the  new  building.  Subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  over  $3,200 
were  co^Jected,  and  the  building  was  completed  and  occupied  by  the  Sabbath-School 
early  in  December,  1865.  The  parent  church  supplied  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Sickles  to 
preach  for  the  young  congregation  for  a  period  of  six  months.  The  dedicatory 
exercises  were  held  on  the  24th  December,  1865,  and  were  conductsd  by  the  Rev. 
J.  H.  Nixon,  pastor  of  the  First  Church.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Gtilt,  licentiate,  of 
Chicago,  preached  for  the  congregation  from  May  to  September  of  1867;  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  C.  M.  Howard. 

At  7J  p.  M.,  on  the  27th  November,  1867,  the  church  was  formally  organized 
'by  order  of  the  Presbytery;  the  committee  consisting  of  the  Revs.  J.  H.  Nixon  and 
William  Armstrong,  and  Elders  Thomas  Mclntire  and  William  R.  Craig.  Twenty- 
three  persons,  either  by  examination  or  by  letter,  were  admitted  into  the  new  organ- 
isation. Wm.  R. -Craig  was  chosen  the  first  elder,  and  the  Rev.  C.  M.  Howard  w-as 


214  HOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

invited  to  become  the  pastor.  Mr.  Howard  was  a  gentleman  of  extraordinarj 
religious  enthusiasm  and  industry.  The  field  was  forbidding,  and  a  pastor  IB  search 
of  a  pleasant  sphere  of  labor,  where  the  wilderness  had  been  subdued  by  Christian 
cultivation,  would  have  avoided  the  pioneer  duty  assumed  by  Mr.  Howard.  The 
latter  labored  with  such  patient  and  persevering  industry,  that  great  success 
followed  his  efforts,  and  the  church  rapidly  increased  in  numbers.  Worn  out  by 
hard  service,  he  was  obliged  to  ask  a  release  from  his  pastoral  duties,  and  he  retired 
from  that  position  in  October,  1869. 

In  November,  1869,  the  Rev.  John  B.  Brandt  was  called  to  supply  the  congre- 
gation. At  the  end  of  the  year  he  was  compelled  to  discontinue  his  pastoral  rela- 
tion to  the  church,  on  account  of  the  demands  on  his  time  by  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  of  this  city,  of  which  he  was  the  Superintendent. 

During  the  year  1869  Samuel  E.  Kennedy,  Edwin  G.  Barrett  and  Alexander 
Craig  were  elected  elders;  Messrs.  J.  W.  Kolwes,  Lewis  H.  Decker  and  James 
Duthie,  deacons;  C.  A.  Griffith,  Robert  J.  Pedloe,  John  R.  Childers,  Jacob  Beltz, 
Hiram  C.  Husted,  J.  W.  Brown,  Edwin  G.  Barrett,  and  John  Jolly,  Trustees. 

Rev.  L.  G.  Hay  took  charge  of  the  church  November  1st,  1870,  remaining 
about  six  months.  He  was  specially  qualified  for  this  pest  by  many  years  of  expe- 
rience in  similar  fields,  and  by  a  happy  union  of  religious  zeal  with  practical 
sagacity,  and  the  society  flourished  during  his  pastorate. 

Rev.  Charles  H.  Raymond  has  recently  assumed  pastoral  charge  of  this  church, 
and  entered  upon  his  work  with  the  hearty  co-operation  of  his  people. 

The  Scotchman's  remedy  for  the  cure  of  disorder  in  his  locality  has  proven 
successful. 

The  present  number  of  communicants  is  over  one  hundred.  The  Sabbath- 
School  reckons  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  members  and  twenty  officers  and 
teachers  The  success  of  the  latter  is  largely  due  to  the  Superintendent,  Mr.  Ebe- 
nezer  Sharpe,  who  lately  retired  from  this  position  to  take  charge  of  the  North 
Street  Mission  School.  The  present  Superintendent  Is  Mr.  Alexander  Craig, 

The  value  of  the  property  is  about  $2,000. 

PfcESBYTERIAN    MISSIONS. 

North  Street  Mission. — Location :     On  the  corner  of  North  and  Delaware  streets. 

This  flourishing  mission  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  was  established  in 
July,  1870.  The  mission  building  had  been  occupied  for  Sabbath-School  pur- 
POSPS  before  this  time,  being  known  as  the  "Saw  Mill  Mission,"  but  for  several 
months  the  field  had  been  abandoned.  The  leading  spirits  in  the  new  organiza- 
tion were  Gen.  Ben.  Harrison,  Dr.  C.  C.  Burgess,  Ebenezer  feharpe,  Capt.  E,  P. 
Howe,  I.  C.  Hays  and  others,  all  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  Sibbath  School  has  an  average  attendance  of  over  two  hundred,  some- 
times reaching  nearly  two  hundred  and  fifty.  Regular  religious  services  are  held  of 
Sunday  evenings,  and  a  prayer  meeting,  conducted  by  the  officers  of  the  mission, 
is  held  on  each  Wednesday  evening. 

Rev.  L.  G  Hay  has  been  appointed  to  take  charge  of  this  mission,  and  it  is 
expected  that  a  church  will  be  established  in  the  course  of  the  present  year. 

The  laborers  in  this  work  have  been  active  and  zealous,  and  it  has  been  a  suc- 
cessful enterprise  from  the  start.  The  chapel  occupied  by  the  mission,  was  pur- 
chased for  that  purpose  by  James  W.  Brown,  Esq.,  a. citizen  noted  for  his  munifi- 
aence  in  regard  to  religious  enterprises  in  this  city.  The  mission  has  thus  had  & 


RELIGIOUS. 

chapel  furnished  free  of  rent — an  assistance  of  no  small  moment  to  a  young  organ- 
ization. 

From  the  importance  of  this  field  and  the  encouragement  which  the  enter- 
prise has  received,  it  is  confidently  predicted  that  the  North  Street  Mission  will,  at 
no  greatly  distant  day,  develop  into  one  of  the  largest  and  most  prosperous 
churches  of  Indianapolis. 

The  value  of  the  property  is  about  $2,500. 

Memorial  Chapel  is  located  on  the  corner  of  Christian  avenue  and  Bellefon- 
taine  street ;  and  was  founded,  as  it  has  since  been  maintained,  by  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church.  A  Sabbath-School,  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  M.  K.  Barnard,  as 
superintendent,  was  immediately  organized,  and  has  steadily  increased  in  pros- 
perity ever  since.  George  Crane,  Esq.,  succeeded  Mr.  Barnard,  in  October,  1870. 
His  labors  in  building  up  the  mission  have  been  both  zealous  and  successful ;  so 
that  the  average  attendance  is  about  seventy-five.  From  the  first,  weekly  prayer 
meetings  have  been  held ;  which  have  also  been  well  attended — the  citizens  in 
that  vicinity  taking  an  active  interest  in  the  success  of  the  mission.  Should  the 
enterprise  continue  to  prosper  in  the  future  as  in  the  past,  (of  which  there  is  no 
reason  to  doubt,)  the  result  will  be  the  early  admission  of  this  mission  into  the 
Presbytery  as  a  full  grown  church. 

The  building  in  which  the  services  of  the  Mission  are  held,  is  a  neat  frame 
structure,  with  seating  room  for  about  two  hundred  persons,  and  was  erected  in  the 
spring  of  1870,  at  a  cost,  including  that  of  site,  of  about  $3,500. 

West  Street  Mission. — Location  :   West  street,  near  Georgia. 

This  mission  was  established  on  the  25th  of  July,  1869,  by  a  colony  of  young 
men  from  the  First  Church,  assisted  by  two  or  three  other  persons ;  who  secured, 
for  their  purpose,  a  building  formerly  used  as  a  Soldiers'  Barracks,  located  as 
above. 

The  field  was  not  inviting,  and  the  building  anything  but  elegant  or  attract- 
ive ;  but  the  founders  of  the  enterprise,  with  little  but  their  own  zeal  and  persist- 
ence (of  which  they  have  certainly  expended  an  extraordinary  amount)  to  aid 
them  in  the  work,  succeeded  in  establishing  and  conducting  a  useful  and  growing 
mission  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  a  locality  where  there  was  great  need  of 
such  an  undertaking. 

They  began  by  organizing  a  Sabbath-School,  with  Henry  D.  Carlisle  as  super- 
intendent. The  school  was  successful  from  the  beginning.  The  average  attendance 
of  pupils  is  about  seventy-five;  any  material  increase  of  which  number  is  hin- 
dered by  the  limited  capacity  of  the  building.  Mr.  Carlisle  has,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  an  intermission  of  a  few  months,  been  the  superintendent  ever  since.  The 
young  men  who  founded  the  mission  have,  with  the  assistance  of  an  additional 
helper  or  two,  continued  to  sustain  it;  and  have  managed  to  accumulate  a  hand- 
some Sunday-School  library,  and  an  organ,  besides  fitting  up  the  room  and  paying 
the  rental. 

During  the  past  summer,  out-door  meetings,  largely  attended,  were  held  every 
Sabbath  in  front  of  the  building ;  and  when  the  cold  weather  put  a  stop  to  these, 
and  forced  the  "  Colony  "  to  adjourn  to  the  inside,  these  meetings  were  not  dis- 
continued. These  religious  services  have  been  conducted  by  the  five  young  men 
in  charge  of  the  Sabbath-School,  (Henry  D.  Carlisle,  P.  L.  Mayhew,  E.  D.  Craig- 
head,  Leroj  W.  Braden,  and  Charles  Meigs;)  who — as  they  express  it — "being 


215  BOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

too  poor  to  secure  a  regular  minister,  have  had  to  do  their  own  preaching, — with 
what  help  they  could  get  from  laymen  of  the  different  churches  of  the  city." 

The  attendance  at  these  Sabbath  evening  meetings  has  generally  been  as  large 
as  the  limited  capacity  of  the  building  would  admit  of. 

Indianola  Mission. — The  location  of  this  mission  is  in  Indianolu,  on  Washing- 
ton street,  half  a  mile  west  of  the  White  River  Bridge.  The  property  was,  for  a 
number  of  years,  occupied  as  a  Methodist  church.  Having  fallen  into  disuse  by 
the  latter  denomination,  a  mission  Sabbath-School  was  started  thereon  the  15th  of 
July,  1870,  by  three  of  the  young  members  of  the  Third  Presbyterian  Church  ; 
H  H.  Fulton,  E.  G.  Williams,  and  John  G.  Blake.  The  field  for  ihe  mission  was 
large  and  necessitous ;  and  it  has  had  a  good  degree  of  success.  Beside  the  usual 
Sabbath-School  exercises,  religious  services  of  Sabbath  evenings,  have  for  some 
time  been  regularly  held — chiefly  by  laymen. 

Arrangements  for  the  purchase  of  the  property  by  the  Presbyterian  denomi- 
nation, will,  it  is  expected,  be  concluded  shortly;  and  thus  another  addition  to  the 
list  of  Presbyterian  churches  in  this  city,  is  far  advanced  in  its  developement. 

The  mission  is  directed  by  John  G.  Blake,  as  Superintendent,  with  an  Assist- 
ant Superintendent,  ten  teachers,  and  the  usual  additional  officers.  The  number  of 
members  is  about  one  hundred.  The  value  of  the  property  is  about  $1.000. 

Summary — Total  membership  of  the  Presbyterian  Denomination  in  Indiana- 
polis, 1,736;  total  Sabbath-School  membership,  2,008;  total  value  of  church  prop- 
erty, $320,117.74. 

BAPTIST. 

FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

Location  :     North-east  corner  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  streets. 

The  first  assemblage  of  Baptists  in  Indianapolis  was  nearly  fifty  years  ago-. 
An  old  record,  still  preserved,  quaintly  states  that  "The  Baptists  at,  and  near  Indi- 
anapolis, having  removed  from  various  parts  of  the  world,  met  at  the  School  House 
in  Indianapolis,  in  August,  1822,  and  after  some  consultation,  adopted  the  follow- 
ing resolution :  Resolved,  that  we  send  for  helps,  and  meet  at  Indianapolis,  on 
the  20th  day  of  Sept'r  next  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  regular  Baptist  church 
at  s'd  place.  That  John  W.  Reding  write  letters  to  little  Flat  Rock  &  Little  Cedar 
Grove  churches  for  help.  That  Samuel  McCormuck  write  letters  to  Lick  Creek  and 
Franklin  churches  for  helps — then  adjourned." 

The  next  meeting  was  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Elder  Tyner  attended  from 
Little  Cedar  Grove  church  and  "after  Divine  service  went  into  business."  "Let- 
ters were  received  and  read  from  Brothers  Benjamin  Barns,  Jeremiah  Johnson, 
Thomas  Carter,  Otis  Hobart,  John  Hobart,  Theodore  V.  Denny,  John  McCormack, 
Samuel  McCormack,  John  Thompson,  and  William  Dodd,  and  Sisters  Jane  John- 
son, Nancy  Carter,  Nancy  Thompson,  Elizabeth  McCormack,  and  Polly  Carter, 
then  adjourned  until  Saturday  morning  10  o'clk." 

Saturday  morning: 

"  Met  according  to  adjournment  and  after  Divine  service  letters  were  rec'd  from 
John  W.  Reding  and  Hannah  Skinner.  Brother  B.  Barns  was  appointed  to  speak 
and  answer  for  the  members — and  Brother  Tyner  went  into  an  examination,  and 
finding  the  members  sound  in  the  Faith  pronounced  them  a  regular  Baptist  church,, 
and  directed  them  to  go  into  business.." 


RELIGIOUS.  217 

"  Brother  Tyner  was  then  chosen  moderator,  and  John  W.  Reding  clerk  1st 
agreed  to  be  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  at  Indi- 
anapolis, then  adjourned  until  the  third  Satui'day  in  Oct'r  1822. 

J.  W.  REDING,  CK." 

Benjamin  Barns  appears  to  have  been  rather  the  most  prominent  among  the 
early  membership,  for  on  the  third  Saturday  of  June,  1823,  the  record  recites: 
"agreed  that  Bro.  B.  Barns  be  called  to  preach  to  this  church  once  a  month  until 
the  end  of  this  year:  to  which  Bro.  Barns  agreed." 

The  first  deacon  was  John  Thompson,  who  was,  by  a  unanimous  vote  of  the 
church,  called  to  that  office  on  the  third  Saturday  of  December,  1822. 

In  May,  1823,  Samuel  McCormack  was  "ordered  to  be  a  singing  elk.  to  this 
church." 

A  committee  appointed  to  secure  a  J»l»ice  for  worship,  consisting  of  J.  Carter, 
H.  Bradly,  and  D.  Wood,  reported  that  "  the  School  houie  may  bo  had  without  in- 
terruption." This  was  a  new  log  school  house,  situated  on  the  north  side  of,  and 
partly  in,  Maryland  street,  between  Tennessee  and  Mississippi  streets. 

On  the  third  Saturday,  in  November,  1824,  a  committee  of  three  was  appointed 
(i  to  rent  a  room  or  repair  the  school  house  for  a  meeting  house  the  ensuing  season, 
to  report  at  the  next  meeting."  At  the  next  meeting,  in  January,  1825,  the  com- 
mittee reported  "that  §1.25  had  been  expended  in  repairing  the  school  house, — 
and  the  deacon  is  requested  to  pay  the  same  out  of  the  joint  funds,  and  that  each 
Brother  pay  the  Bro.  deacon  a  small  sum  on  to-morrow."  At  the  same  meeting  it 
was,  "  on  motion,  agreed  that  the  church  petition  the  present  Gen'l  Assembly  for  a 
site  to  build  a  meeting  house  upon ;  and  that  the  S.  E.  half  of  the  shaded  block  90 
be  selected, — and  that  Bro.  J.  Hobart,  H.  Bradley  and  the  elk.  be  appointed  to  bear 
the  petition."  In  due  time  the  committee  reported  that  the  petition  had  "failed." 

In  the  spring  of  1825,  Major  Thomas  Chinn  invited  the  church  to  use  his 
house  as  a  place  for  worship  during  the  summer;  which  invitation  was  accepted. 

In  June,  1825,  the  church  purchased  from  Wm.  Wilmott,  Esq.,  lot  2,  in  square 
50,  for  use.  There  was  a  small  frame  house  on  the  lot,  which  was  not  plas- 
tered, and  arrangements  were  made  to  finish  it,  which  were  afterwards  "  post- 
poned sinadi,"  and  the  house  left  as  it  was.  An  apportionment  was  ordered  to  pay 
for  the  house  and  lot,  and  a  committee  reported  an  assessment  of  $48,  divided 
among  the  fifteen  male  members  of  the  church. 

In  January,  1826,  Rev.  'Cornelius  Duvall,  of  Owen  county,  Kentucky,  was 
called  to  the  pastorate.  Nothing  resulted  from  this  call,  so  far  as  appears  upon  the 
records,  and  in  December,  1826,  Rev.  Abraham  Smock  was  called  as  pastor  for 
one  year ;  he  accepted  and  soon  began  his  labors.  Soon  afterward,  the  church 
disposed  of  the  lot  purchased  from  Wilmott,  and  lot  3,  in  square  75  (where  Schnull's 
block  now  stands)  was  purchased  for  $100,  and  a  meeting  house  erected  in  1829. 

In  July,  1830,  Rev.  A.  Smock  resigned,  and  for  some  time  the  church  was 
without  a  pastor. 

In  September,  1831,  of  two  members  received  into  the  church,  by  letter,  one 
was  "Bro.  Mosely  Stewart,  (man  of  color.") 

In  May,  1832,  Rev.  Byron  Lawrence  was  "  requested  to  preach  for  us  as  fre- 
quently as  he  can  on  Lord's  day  for  six  months." 

In  April,  1833,  Revs.  Jameson  Hawkins,  Byron  Lawrence,  and  Ezra  Fisher, 
were  "invited  to  preach  for  this  church  statedly,  on  each  Lord's  day,  making 
their  own  arrangements." 

In  August,  1833,  "  Bro.  Anthony  A.  Slaton,  (man  of  color,)  was  rec'd  by  letter." 


218  HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

In  February,  1834,  Rev.  Ezra  Fisher  was  called  "  to  be  the  stated  preacher 
of  the  church."  He  served  in  this  capacity  some  months,  and  in  January,  1835, 
T.  C.  Townsend  was  requested  to  preach  by  the  church,  until  a  regular  pastor 
should  be  settled. 

In  July,  1835,  Rev.  J.  L.  Richmond  was  called  to  the  pastorate  and  accepted. 

The  house  of  worship  first  erected  on  the  new  lot  was  replaced  in  due  time 
by  a  more  pretentious  frame  edifice,  which  was  occupied  by  the  church  as  a  place 
of  worship,  for  a  number  of  years. 

In  1843,  the  Rev.  George  C.  Chandler  took  the  pastorate  and  remained  until 
1847.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  T.  R.  Cressy,  who  continued  until  1852.  He,  in 
turn,  gave  way  to  Rev.  Sidney  Dyer,  who  labored  until  1857,  and  was  followed  by 
Rev.  J.  B.  Simmons,  who  preached  from  1858  to  1861.  On  the  morning  of  the 
first  Sunday,  in  January,  1861,  the  church  building  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and 
for  a  time  after  that,  the  congregation  worshiped  in  Masonic  Hall.  Mr.  Sim- 
mons resigned  the  pastorate  in  1861,  and  Rev.  Henry  Day,  of  Philadelphia,  was 
called  to  the  vacant  pulpit.  Mr.  Day  accepted  the  call,  has  been  the  pastor  of 
the  church  ever  since,  and  has  fully  earned  his  high  place  in  the  public  esti- 
mation, without  as  within  his  congregation.  To  repair  the  destruction  caused  by 
the  fire,  the  church  at  once  purchased  a  desirable  site  on  the  north-east  cor- 
ner of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  streets,  and  in  1862,  began  the  erection  of 
the  commodious  and  handsome  brick  edifice  shown  in  the  accompanying  engrav- 
ing. 

Under  the  ministration  of  Rev.  Mr.  Day,  the  church  has  enjoyed  an  uninter- 
rupted progress ;  so  that  to-day,  in  respect  of  the  extent  and  character  of  its  con-, 
gregation,  and  of  influence,  it  occupies  the  front  rank  in  the  numerous  religious  so- 
cieties of  Indianapolis, 

The  present  number  of  members  is  five  hundred  and  fifty-eight. 

The  Sabbath-School  is  also  in  a  highly  prosperous  condition.  For  a  period 
of  over  twenty  years,  it  was  under  the  charge  of  the  late  J.  R.  Osgood,  to  whose 
eminent  zeal,  piety,  and  efficiency,  a  large  measure  of  its  prosperity  is  due.  The 
school  now  numbers  over  six  hundred  scholars. 

The  church  building,  though  not  strictly  homogeneous  and  "true"  in  re- 
spect of  its  architecture,  is  nevertheless,  a  commodious  and  elegant  edifice ;  and 
its  internal  appointments  are  of  the  first  class'.  It  cost  about  $50,000;  and  will 
readily  seat  twelve  hundred  people.  It  has  a  fine  organ  that  cost  §2,500.  Its 
erection  was  one  of  the  fruits  of  that  quite  recent  spirit  of  rivalry  in  splendor  of 
church  architecture,  that  has  resulted  in  making  Indianapolis  eminent  for  the 
number  of  its  elegant  church  edifices. 

The  officers  for  the  present  year  are  as  follow : 

Pastor. — Reverend  Henry  Day,  D.  D. 

Deacons. — E.  C.  Atkins,  H.  S.  Gillet,  and  J.  M.  Button. 

Trustees. — C.  P.  Jacobs,  J.  W.  Smither,  E.  J.  Foster,  H.  Knippenberg,  H.  C. 
Martin,  J.  M.  Sutton,  S.  C.  Hanna,  and  W.  C.  Smock. 

SOUTH    STBEET    BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

Location :     Corner  of  South  and  Noble  streets. 

The  "Home  Church"  (as  the  First  Baptist  Church  is  called)  purchased  a  lot 
on  the  corner  of  South  and  Noble  streets,  erected  a  neat  brick  chapel  thereon,  and 
began  a  mission  in  that  part  of  the  city.  A  Sunday-School  was  at  once  estab- 
lished, which  developed  a  deep  interest,  and  in  1869,  seventy-six  of  the  members  of 


RELIGIOUS.  219 

the  First  Church  withdrew  by  letter,  and  formed  a  new  society  known  as  the  South 
Street  Baptist  Church,  receiving  from  the  parent  body  a  free  gift  of  the  chapel 
building  and  grounds.  This  church  now  enjoys  a  happy  prosperity  under  the 
pastorate  of  Kev.  William  Elgin. 

The  number  of  members  is  about  one  hundred ;  Sabbath-School  membership, 
two  hundred  and  fifty. 

The  value  of  the  property  is  about  $10,000. 

GARDEN    MISSIOK. 

Location:     Corner  of  Washington  and  Missouri  streets. 

A  second  mission  interest  was  established  by  the  First  Church,  in  1866,  in  the 
old  German  theater,  on  the  corner  of  Tennessee  street  and  Kentucky  avenue.  It 
now  occupies  the  building  at  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Missouri  streets, 
and  sustains  a  weekly  prayer  meeting,  and  a  Sunday-School  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  scholars.  Henry  Knippenberg,  Esq.,  is  the  Superintendent. 

NORTH    BAPTIST    MISSION. 

In  April,  1870,  a  third  mission  interest  was  established  on  the  corner  of  Cherry 
and  Broadway  streets,  and  is  now  known  as  the  North  Baptist  Mission.  This  in- 
terest sustains  a  Sunday-School  of  about  one  hundred  and -seventy  pupils,  under 
the  charge  of  C.  P.  Jacobs,  Esq.,  Superintendent.  Preaching  every  Sunday,  a 
weekly  prayer  meeting  on  Tuesday  evening,  and  an  adult  Bible  class.  A  neat 
chapel,  thirty-two  by  forty-five  feet,  has  been  erected  and  furnished,  and  a  church 
will  doubtless  be  organized  here  during  the  coming  year. 

The  value  of  the  property  is  about 


SECOND    BAPTIST   CHURCH — (COLORED.) 

Location :     Michigan  street,  between  Indiana  avenue  and  West  street. 

This  church  was  founded  in  the  year  1846,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sachel,  a  missionary 
of  Cincinnati.  The  services  of  the  congregation  were  first  held  in  a  school  house 
on  Alabama  street.  In  1849,  they  built  their  first  house  of  worship,  on  North 
Missouri  street,  between  Ohio  and  New  York  streets.  It  was  a  small  building, 
twenty  by  thirty  feet;  and  was  burned  in  the  winter  of  18§1.  The  building  was 
not  insured,  and  the  congregation  for  some  time  afterward,  worshiped  in  a  house 
near  the  corner  of  North  and  Blackford  streets,  owned  by  John  Brown,  Esq.,  (now 
deceased),  who  was  a  deacon  of  the  church,  and  a  prime  mover  in  building  the  first 
and  second  houses  of  worship  of  the  congregation. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1852,  the  church  building  was  rebuilt,  on  the 
site  occupied  by  the  building  that  had  been  burned.  It  was  a  cheap,  one  story 
structure,  twenty-six  by  thirty-six  feet ;  and  was  enlarged  in  1864.  The  congre- 
gation seem  to  have  always  been  both  prosperous  and  enterprising ;  and  accord- 
ingly we  find  them  commencing  the  erection  of  a  more  commodious  house  of  wor- 
ship, in  September,  1867. 

It  will,  when  completed,  be  a  neat  and  capacious  building,  reflecting  great 
credit  on  the  congregation,  considering  the  means  at  their  disposal  and  the  obsta- 
cles they  had  to  overcome.  The  dimensions  are  sixty-three  feet  square.  The  base- 
ment has  been  completed  and  occupied,  and  the  building  will  be  completed  in 
due  time. 


220  BOLiowArs  INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  auditorum  will  occupy  an  entire  story,  with  a  ceiling  twenty-two  and  one- 
half  feet  in  height,  and  a  gallery  all  around.  The  extreme  elevation  at  the  top 
of  the  belfry,  will  be  one  hundred  and  five  feet.  The  cost  of  the  completed  struct- 
ure will  be  about  $16,000.  The  congregation  has  been  served  by  the  following 
pastors. 

Joshua  Harmon,  (since  deceased),  1848-51  ;  Jesse  Young,  1852-53 ;  J.  J. 
Fitzgerald,  (since  deceased,)  1853-5;  George  Butler,  1855-6;  Pleasant  Bowles, 
1857,  (for  six  months) ;  and  Kev.  Moses  Broyles,  the  present  pastor,  who  is  now 
in  the  fourteenth  year  of  his  pastoral  relation  to  the  congregation.  For  the  want 
of  method  and  system  in  the  administration  of  its  affairs,  the  church  underwent 
many  trials  and  vicissitudes  during  the  first  eleven  years  of  its  existence.  When 
Mr.  Broyles  took  charge  of  affairs  in  1857.  the  membership  was  not  more  than 
twenty-five;  now  it  is  four  hundred  and  thirty-five,  and  steadily  increasing.  The 
usual  Sabbath  and  week  day  religious  services,  are  regularly  held  in  this  church. 
Its  affairs  are  now  methodically  administered,  and  it  has  all  the  officers  of  a  well 
appointed,  thoroughly  organized  church.  The  Sabbath-School,  of  which  Andrew 
Lewis  is  superintendent,  has  two  hundred  and  sixty-five  members,  and  is  divided 
into  twenty  classes,  with  as  many  teachers. 

Summary — Total  membership  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Indianapolis,  one 
thousand  and  ninety-three;  total  Sabbath-school  membership,  one  thousand  two 
hundred  and  sixty-five;  total  value  of  church  property,  $76,000. 

CONGREGATIONAL. 

PLYMOUTH   CHURCH. 

Location:     Meridian  street,  near  Circle  Park. 

This  church  was  organized  August  9th,  1857.  The  original  membership  con- 
sisted of  thirty-one  persons,  a  majority  of  whom  joined  by  letter  from  other 
churches  in  this  city.  For  several  months  previous  to  the  organization,  these  mem- 
bers supported  religious  worship  and  a  Sabbath-School  in  the  Senate  Chamber  of  the 
State  House.  There  the  church  continued  to  worship  (except  for  a  short  period, 
during  which  services  were  held  in  Ramsey's  Hall  on  Illinois  street),  until  their 
removal  to  their  present  edifice  on  the  north-west  corner  of  Circle  and  Meridian 
streets.  For  a  few  months  after  the  organization,  Rev.  W.  C.  Bartlett  officiated  as 
minister. 

The  original  officers  of  the  church  were  as  follow: 

Trustees.— A.  G.  Willard,  E.  T.  Sinker,  W.  W.  Roberts,  E.  J.  Baldwin. 

Deacons. — Horace  Bassett,  Albert  G.  Willard,  Edward  T.  Sinker,  Benjamin  M. 
Ludden. 

Clerk. — E.  Montgomery. 

Treasurer. — Albert  G.  Willard. 

Rev.  N.  A.  Hyde,  the  first  pastor,  entered  upon  his  duties  in  October.  1868,  and 
resigned  the  pastorate  in  August,  1867,  to  become  Superintendent  of  the  American 
Home  Missionary  Society  for  Indiana. 

Rev.  E.  P.  Ingersoll,  the  next  pastor,  commenced  his  labors  March'  1st,  1868, 
and  resigned  January,  1870. 

Rev.  Joseph  L.  Bennett,  the  third  and  present  pastor,  entered  upon  his  duties 
in  January,  1871. 

The  officers  at  the  present  time  are  the  following : 


RELIGIOUS.  221 

Trustees.— S.  A.Fletcher,  E.  T.  Sinker,  (died  April  5th,  1871),  N.  R.  Smith,  S. 
A.  Fletcher,  Jr. 

Deacons.— H.  S.  Rockey,  A.  G.  Willard,  I.  S.  Bigelow. 

Clerk.— Jared  M.  Bills. 

Treasurer.— Albert  B.  "Willard. 

The  membership  of  the  church  now  numbers  about  two  hundred.  The  Sab- 
bath-School, John  Martin,  superintendent,  numbers  about  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five. 

The  house  of  worship  occupied  by  this  church  was  commenced  in  the  fall  of 
1858;  the  front  part,  containing  the  lecture  room,  pastors  study  and  social  rooms, 
was  completed  in  September,  1859;  this  was  occupied  as  the  pKce  of  worship  by 
the  congregation  until  the  main  audience  room  was  erected,  in  1866. 

Of  the  church  building  extensive  improvements,  both  external  and  internal, 
were  commenced  in  October,  1870;  and  the  reconstructed  and  improved  edifice  was 
dedicated  on  the  30th  of  April,  1871,  at  which  time  the  present  pastor,  the  Rev. 
Joseph  L.  Bennett,  was  installed. 

The  house  of  worship,  if  surpassed  by  others  in  size  and  architectural  splen- 
dor, is  nevertheless  one  of  the  most  pleasant  and  convenient  in  this  city  of  elegant 
and  costly  church  buildings. 

The  value  of  building  and  site  is  about  $38,000. 

MAT   FLOWER  CHURCH. 

Location  :     Corner  of  St.  Clair  and  East  streets. 

A  Sabbath-School,  organized  by  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  at  a 
small  private  house  on  the  corner  of  Jackson  and  Cherry  streets,  resulted  in  the 
organization  of  the  present  Mayflower  Congregational  Church,  on  the  23d  May, 
1369.  The  original  membership  consisted  of  thirteen  members,  who  united  with 
the  church  by  letter:  five  from  the  Plymouth  Congregational  Church  of  this  city; 
two  from  the  Third  Street  M.  E.  Church;  one  from  Roberts  Park  M.  E.  Church; 
three  from  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  church  building,  located  as  above,  was  dedicated  in  January,  1870.  It  is 
a  frame  building,  forty  by  sixty  feet,  and  simple  and  neat  in  its  architectural 
aspects.  From  the  time  of  organization  as  a  church  until  November,  1870,  the 
Rev.  C.  M.  Sanders  was  pastor.  He  was  succeeded  on  the  1st  April,  1871,  by  the 
Rev.  G.  W.  Barnum,  the  present  pastor. 

Forty-three  members  have  united  with  the  church  since  its  organization. 

The  present  number  of  members  is  about  thirty-five.  The  Sabbath-School  has 
about  two  hundred  and  twenty  five  pupils. 

The  present  officers  are :  M.  S.  Whitehead  and  J.  R.  Irving,  Deacons ;  An- 
drew Fisher,  Treasurer;  E.  D.  Olin,  Clerk;  S.  A.  Fletcher,  Andrew  Fisher  and  E. 
D.  Olin,  Trustees. 

The  value  of  the  church  property  is  about  $5,000. 

Summary — Total  membership  of  the  Congregational  Denomination  in  Indiana- 
polis, two  hundred  and  thirty-five;  total  Sabbath-School  membership,  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty;  total  value  of  church  property,  $43,000. 


222  HOLLO WA  Y'8  INDIANAPOLIS. 

CHRISTIAN. 

CHRISTIAN     CHAPEL. 

Location :     South-west  corner  of  Ohio  and  Delaware  streets. 

This  society  was  organized  on  the  12th  January,  1833.  Dr.  John  H.  Sanders 
and  Peter  H.  Roberts  were  its  first  ruling  elders.  The  number  of  names  enrolled 
at  the  time  of  organization  was  twenty.  Eld.  John  O'Kane  may  appropriately  be 
considered  the  Father  of  this  church.  He  visited  the  city  in  the  latter  part  of  1832, 
and  started  the  movement  that  led  to  the  organization  of  the  society,  of  which  he 
was  the  first  preacher. 

During  the  early  history  of  the  church,  and  when  it  most  needed  aid,  Ovid 
Butler,  Esq.,  Robert  A.  Taylor,  (since  deceased,  and  father  of  Hon.  Napoleon  B. 
Taylor,  of  this  city),  Dr.  John  H.  Sanders,  (father  of  Mrs.  Governor  Wallace,  Mrs. 
R.  B.  Duncan  and  Mrs.  Dr.  Gatling,  of  this  city),  and  Mr.  Charles  Secrest  were 
fast  and  liberal  friends  of  the  enterprise,  and  contributed  freely  to  its  support. 
Elder  O'Kane,  J.  L.  Jones,  M.  Combs,  L.  H.  Jameson,  A.  Prather  and  others 
visited  the  city  during  the  early  years  of  the  church,  to  hold  protracted  meetings 
which  were  generally  successful.  B.  K.  Smith,  and  Elder  Chauncey  Butler  were 
resident  laborers  in  this  service.  Through  these  instrumentalities  the  church  grad- 
ually grew  in  strength;  and  a  house  of  worship  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1836, 
on  Kentucky  avenue. 

On  the  1st  October,  1842,  at  the  instance  of  Elder  O'Kane,  Elder  L.  H.  Jam- 
eson became  resident  evangelist,  in  which  service  he  continued  until  1853.  Dur- 
ing the  latter  year  the  congregation  occupied  the  present  church  edifice.  At  this 
date  the  membership  had  increased  to  three  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

The  succession  of  pastors  thenceforward  was:  Elders  James  M.  Mathes,  for  one 
year;  L.  H.  Jameson,  one  year;  Elder  Elijah  Goodwin,  three  years;  Elder  Perry 
Hall,  three  years;  Elder  O.  A.  Burgess,  seven  years;  Elder  W.  F.  Black,  the  pres- 
ent pastor,  who  has  served  the  church  for  two  years, 

Christian  Chapel  ranks  among  the  leading  churches  of  the  city.  The  present 
number  of  members  is  about  six  hundred.  The  Sabbath-School  has  about  two 
hundred  members. 

The  church  building  is  quite  plain  externally;  but  is  attractively  furnished  and 
appointed  within. 

The  value  of  the  building  and  site  is  about  $35,000. 

SECOND   CHRISTIAN   CHURCH    (COLORED). 

Location  :     First  street,  between  Mississippi  street  and  the  Lafayette  Railway. 

This  society  was  established  in  the  spring  of  1867,  as  a  mission  of  the  First 
Christian  Church  of  this  city,  Prominent  in  its  establishment  and  support  during 
its  infancy  were  Messrs.  W.  W.  Dowling  and  J.  M.  Tilford.  As  soon  as  possible, 
and  in  a  short  time,  a  house  of  worship  was  secured  at  the  above  stated  location. 
It  is  an  unpretentious  frame  building,  but  sufficient  to  meet  the  present  wants  of 
the  society;  having  capacity  for  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  persons. 

The  society  consists  of  about  one  hundred  members.  The  Sabbath-School  is 
in  a  prosperous  state,  having  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  members. 

Rev.  Rufus  Conrad,  the  present  pastor,  has  served  the  society  in  that  relation 
ever  since  its  organization. 

The  value  of  the  building  and  site  is  about  $2,000. 


RELIGIOUS.  223 

THIRD   CHRISTIAN   CHURCH. 

Location:     Forest-Home  avenue,  near  Ash  street. 

In  the  spring  of  1867  a  Sunday-School  was  organized  at  the  North-western 
Christian  University,  and  placed  in  charge  of  Prof.  A.  C.  Shortridge,  who  was 
mainly  instrumental  in  its  establishment.  Out  of  this  grew  the  organization  of  the 
Third  Church,  which  took  place  in  the  chapel  of  the  University  on  the  first  Sabbath 
in  January,  1869.  For  the  first  year  of  its  existence  the  congregation  had  no  regu- 
lar minister,  but  maintained  the  usual  weekly  meetings,  with  preaching  by  various 
ministers  as  their  services  could  be  obtained.  The  second  year  the  services  of  Aus- 
tin Council  were  secured  as  pastor.  Since  then  Elder  Elijah  Goodwin  has  been 
serving  in  that  capacity. 

The  church  has  built  a  comfortable  house  of  worship  on  Forest-Home  avenue, 
near  Ash  street, — a  frame  building,  sixty  feet  long  and  thirty-four  wide,  with  a 
baptistry  under  the  pulpit  platform,  and  dressing  rooms  in  the  rear.  The  society 
numbers  something  over  one  hundred  members.  The  Sabbath-School  has  about  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  members. 

The  value  of  the  property  is  about  $8,000. 

The  present  officers  are: 

Elders.— E.  Goodwin,  J.  M.  Tilford,  J.  M.  Bramwell,  E.  T.  Brown. 

Deacons.— A.  C.  Shortridge,  H.  C.  Guffin,  K.  M.  Cosby,  J.  P.  Elliott. 

FOURTH   CHRISTIAN   «HURCH. 

Location:     Corner  of  Fayette  and  Walnut  streets. 

This  organization  began  as  a  Mission  Sabbath-School  on  Sunday,  28th  June, 
1868,  at  a  dwelling  on  Blake  street.  Here  the  school  continued  to  meet  every  Sab- 
bath day  until  the  following  November,  when  the  place  of  meeting  was  changed 
to  a  room  on  the  corner. of  New  York  and  Blake  streets.  In  the  following  winter 
the  mission  was  organized  as  a  church  society  by  Elder  J.  B.  New  as  pastor,  with 
W.  "W.  Dowling  as  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-School.  In  the  summer  of  1869, 
the  place  of  worship  was  changed  to  a  small  hall  on  Indiana  avenue,  where  the 
services  were  held  until  the  close  of  the  year  1870.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1871, 
the  present  house  of  worship  was  dedicated. 

The  chapel  is  a  neat  wooden  structure,  capable  of  seating  about  three  hundred 
persons  ;  and  cost,  including  the  site,  about  $4,000. 

The  present  membership  of  the  society  is  about  one  hundred;  that  of  the  Sab- 
bath-School, about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five. 

Elders  John  B.  New,  L.  H.  Jameson,  W.  W.  Dowling  and  others  have  filled 
the  pulpit  from  time  to  time.  The  society  is  yet  without  a  regular  pastor. 

SALEM   CHAPEL. 

Location  :     Corner  of  Illinois  and  Fifth  streets. 

This  is  a  prosperous  mission  of  the  First  Church.  The  bouse  of  worship  was 
dedicated  on  the  25th  December,  1870,  by  Elder  W.  F.  Black.  The  Sabbath-School, 
under  the  superintendence  of  Geo.  W.  Snyder,  has  about  two  hundred  members. 
The  prospects  are  excellent  that  this  mission  will,  at  no  distant  day,  be  discharged 
from  its  wardship  to  the  parent  organization,  and  become  a  separate  and  flourishing 
church.  The  value  of  the  present  building  and  site  is  about  $4,000. 


224  HOLLOWATTS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

OLIVB   MISSION. 

Location  :     Corner  of  Tennessee  and  Fourth  streets. 

This  is  also  a  mission  of  the  First  Church,  and  was  founded  in  1869.  Its  servi- 
ces are  now  held  in  a  rented  building;  but  its  members  expect  (an  expectation  war- 
ranted by  the  growth  of  the  enterprise)  to  build  a  suitable  edifice  at  an  early  date 
for  the  use  of  the  mission. 

The  Sabbath-School,  of  which  Jasper  Finney  is  superintendent,  numbers  about 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  members. 

Summary — Total  membership  of  the  Christian  denomination  in  Indianapolis, 
about  nine  hundred;  total  Sabbath-School  membership,  one  thousand.  Total  value 
of  church  property,  $53,000. 

GERMAN    REFORMED. 

There  are  two  societies  of  this  Denomination  in  Indianapolis:  the  First  and 
Second  German  .Reformed  Churches. 

This  denomination  is  a  branch  of  the  church  of  the  great  Reformation  inaugu- 
rated in  Germany  in  the  sixteenth  century,  and  the  source  of  the  present  numerous 
family  of  Protestant  denominations.  Among  the  fathers  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church  were  Zwingle,  Melancthon  and  Calvin,  whose  creed  differed  in  several 
respects  from  that  of  the  Father  of  the  German  Reformation,  Luther. 

The  Lutheran  and  German  Reformed  denominations  originated  about  the 
same  time  (A.  D.,  1519) :  the  former  in  Northern  Germany;  the  latter  in  Switzer- 
land, whence  it  spread  into  Southern  Germany,  France,  Holland  and  England. 

The  German  Reformed  Church  first  obtained  a  foothold  in  this  country  in  the 
year  1740,  in  Pennsylvania,  where  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schlatter  labored  as  the  first  Ger- 
man missionary  of  that  church  in  North  America.  Thence  arose  the  German 
Reformed  Synod  of  the  United  States,  and  the  other  Synods  that  labor  through  the 
Board  of  Domestic  missions  of  the  German  Reformed  Church 

This  much  by  way  of  preliminary  observations  upon  the  denomination  in 
general. 

THE  FIRST   GERMAN   REFORMED  CHURCH   OF   INDIANAPOLIS 

Is  located  on  Alabama  street,  between  Washington  and   Market  streets. 

In  the  fall  of  1851  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  sent  to  this  city,  to  labor 
as  its  missionary,  the  Rev.  George  Long.  He  began  by  preaching  every  Sabbath 
day  in  the  Court  house.  Before  long  he  had  succeeded  so  well  that  he  was  enabled 
to  organize  a  congregation,  who  in  the  spring  of  1852,  began  the  erection  of  a 
house  of  worship  on  the  above  location,  which  was  dedicated  in  October  of  the 
same  year.  In  November,  1856,  Mr.  Long  resigned  his  pastorate,  and  on  the  25th 
of  the  following  month  the  Rev.  M.  G.  I.  Stern  was  elected  his  successor.  During 
the  ministry  of  Mr.  Stern  his  church  ceased  to  be  a  missionary  enterprise,  and  became 
a  self-supporting  society.  The  debts  of  the  church  were  all  paid,  and  it  steadily 
grew  in  membership  and  in  the  attendance  upon  its  services. 

On  the  26th  July,  1865,  the  Rev.  Henry  Echmeier  succeeded  Mr.  Stern,  and 
became  pastor  of  the  church.  During  his  pastorate  the  church  building  was 
enlarged  to  its  present  dimensions  and  otherwise  improved. 

Mr.  Echmeier  resigned  after  serving  the  church  over  three  years  as  its  minister ; 
and  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Barth  is  now  the  supply  of  this  congregation. 


RELIGIOUS.  225 

The  house  of  worship  is  a  plain  but  neat  brick  building.  The  present  mem- 
bership of  the  church  is  about  two  hundred ;  that  of  the  Sabbath-School,  nearly 
the  same  number. 

Some  of  the  founders  and  prominent  early  supporters  of  this  church  are  still 
active  members.  Among  these  are  J.  W.  Brown,  at  present  elder  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sabbath-School,  Henry  W.  Tenneman,  William  Stolte,  Frederick 
Kortepeter,  Frederick  Schowe,  Henry  Kruse  and  Herman  Kortepeter. 

The  value  of  the  property  of  the  society  is  about  $12,000. 

SECOND   GEEMAN   BEFOBMBD   CHURCH. 

Location:  South  side  of  East  street,  south  of  Merrill. 

This  society  was  organized  in  the  summer  of  1867,  by  several  members  of  an 
extinct  church  organization,  living  in  the  south-eastern  quarter  of  the  city.  The 
Kev.  Mr.  Steinbach,  who  had  labored  here  as  a  Lutheran  missionary,  took  charge 
of  the  young  society  thus  established.  He  served  for  a  brief  period,  resigning  at 
the  close  of  the  year  1867. 

At  a  meeting  of  members  held  on  the  1st  January,  1868,  the  Kev.  M.  G.  I.  Stern 
was  selected  as  Mr.  Steinbach's  successor  in  this  missionary  field.  The  result  was 
the  organization,  in  the  autuma  of  1869,  of  a  second  church  of  the  German  Re- 
formed denomination  in  Indianapolis. 

Mr.  Stern  is  still  the  pastor  of  this  church;  which  has  been  a  prosperous 
society  from  the  first.  The  present  number  of  members  is  about  one  hundred,  and 
the  average  attendance  upon  Sabbath-day  services  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  to 
three  hundred. 

Connected  with  this  church  is  a  German-English  parochial  school,  with  an- 
average  attendance  of  about  one  hundred  pupils,  and  having  two  instructors.  The 
Sabbath-School  membership  is  about  two  hundred  and  fifty. 

The  church  building  is  a  plain  neat,  frame  structure,  having  capacity  for  five 
hundred  communicants. 

The  property  of  the  church  is  valued  at  about  $9,000. 

l 

Summary — Total    membership  of  the  German    Reformed    Church  of  Indian- 
apolis, three  hundred;  total  Sabbath-School  membership,  about  four  hundred  and. 
fifty;  total  value  of  church  property,  $21,000. 

THE    SOCIETY    OF    FRIENDS. 

There  is  but  one  church  of  this  denomination  in  Indianapolis.  The  house  of 
worship  is  located  on  the  corner  of  Delaware  and  St.  Clair  streets. 

The  church  was  organized  in  the  year  1854.  For  two  years  the  small  congre- 
gation held  their  religious  services  in  the  old  Lutheran  church  building,  on  North 
Pennsylvania  street,  near  St.  Clair.  The  officiating  minister  during  this  period 
was  Mrs  Hannah  Pierson,  from  Lockport,  New  York.  In  1866  the  society  built 
their  present  house  of  worship,  located  as  above  stated.  The  next  ministers  of  the 
church  were  David  Tatum  and  Hannah  B.  Tatum. 

In  1865  the  society  organized  a  "monthly  meeting,"  and  has  had  the  following 
resident  ministers :  Jane  Trueblood,  W.  G.  Johnson,  Barnabas  C.  Hobbs,  and  Enos 
G.  Pray. 

The  present  number  of  members  is  about  two  hundred  and  forty-six.  The 
Sabbath-School  has  about  eighty  members.  The  value  of  the  property  is  about 
$12,000. 

(15) 


226  HOLLOWAY'S    INDIANAPOLIS. 


METHODIST. 

MERIDIAN    STREET   M.    E.   CHURCH. 

Location  :     South  west  corner  of  Meridian  and  New  York  streets. 

This  church  society,  long  known  as  Wesley  Chapel  M.  E.  Church,  was  the 
pioneer  organization  of  the  Methodist  denomination  in  this  city,  and  occupies  to- 
ward the  numerous  family  of  Methodist  churches  in  Indianapolis  to-day,  the  rela- 
tion of  a  tree  to  its  branches. 

To  begin  with  the  beginning  of  the  history  of  this  church,  it  is  neccessary  to 
go  back  to  the  year  1822,  when  the  Indianapolis  Circuit  of  the  Indiana  District  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  by  Rev.  William  Cravens,  who 
had  been  appointed  to  this  circuit  at  the  session  of  the  Missouri  Conference. 

In  1825,  the  Missouri  Conference  was  divided,  the  Illinois  Conference  was  cre- 
ated, and  the  Indiana  District  became  a  part  of  the  latter  body. 

In  1829,  Indianapolis  Station  was  formed.  This  station  subsequently  passed 
within  the  limits  of  the  Madison  District,  created  in  1830;  of  the  Indiana  Confer- 
ence, created  in  1832 ;  and  of  the  Indianapolis  District  of  the  latter  Conference, 
created  in  1833. 

At  the  session  of  the  Indiana  Conference,  held  in  Centerville,  on  the  19th  of 
October,  1842,  the  Indianapolis  Station  was  divided  into  two  charges :  The  "Wes- 
tern (Wesley  Chapel),  and  the  Eastern  (Roberts  Chapel). 

At  the  session  of  the  Indiana  Conference,  held  in  Madison,  on  the  16th  Octo- 
ber, 1845,  the  charge  was  again  divived,  forming  the  central  charge,  (Wesley 
Chapel),  and  the  western  charge  (Strange  Chapel). 

In  1870,  the  society  took  the  name  of  Meridian  street  M.  E.  Church,  from  the 
location  of  their  elegant  new  church  edifice,  now  nearly  completed. 

For  many  years,  the  society,  of  which  the  present  Meridian  Street  Church  is 
the  development  and  continuation,  occupied  as  a  house  of  worship  the  well-remem- 
bered Wesley  Chapel  building,  on  the  south-west  corner  of  Meridian  and  Circle 
streets.  This  familiar  and  weather-scarred  structure,  gave  way,  in  the  year  1869, 
for  the  erection  on  its  site  of  the  present  Sentinel  Building. 

The  society  purchased  a  site  on  the  south-west  corner  of  Meridian  and  New 
York  streets;  on  which  a  costly  and  artistic  house  of  worship  is  now  near  comple- 
tion. The  basement  has  for  sometime  been  occupied,  and  the  edifice  will  be  com- 
pleted and  dedicated  during  the  present  summer. 

Between  the  dates  of  the  abandonment  of  the  Wesley  Chapel  building  and  of 
the  occupation  of  the  yet  unfinished  strtucture,  the  congregation  worshipped  in 
the  building  of  the  Second  Universalist  Church. 

The  circuit  preachers,  stationed  preachers,  and  presiding  elders,  have  been  as 
follows : 

1821 — Rev.  William  Cravens,  Circuit  Preacher.  1822-3,  Samuel  Hamilton, 
Presiding  Elder;  James  Scott,  Circuit  Preacher.  1823-4,  William  Beauchamp, 
Presiding  Elder;  Jesse  Hale  and  George  Horn,  Circuit  Preachers. 

In  1825,  on  the  division  of  the  Missouri  Conference,  John  Strange  become 
Presiding  Elder,  and  John  Miller,  Circuit  Preacher.  1825-6,  John  Strange,  Pre- 
siding Elder;  Thomas  Hewston,  Circuit  Preacher.  1826-7,  John  Strange,  Presid- 
ing Elder;  Edwin  Ray,  Circuit  Preacher.  1827-8,  John  Strange,  Presiding  Elder ; 
N.  Griffith,  Circuit  Preacher  1828-9,  John  Strange,  Presiding  Elder;  James 
Armstrong,  Stationed  Preacher.  1829  to  1832,  Allen  Wiley,  Presiding  Eider;  Thos, 


227 

SIftt,  Stationed  Preacher.  1832-3,  John  Strange,  Presiding  Elder  ;  Benj.  0.  Steven- 
son, Stationed  Preacher.  1833,  Allen  Wiley,  Presiding  Elder;  C.  W.  Ruter,  Sta- 
tioned Preacher.  1833-4,  James  Havens,  Presiding  Elder  ;  C.-  W.  Ruter,  Stationed 
Preacher.  1834-5,  Jas,  Havens,  Presiding  Elder;  E.  R.Ames,  Stationed  Preacher. 
1835-6,  James  Havens,  Presiding  Elder;  J.  C. -Smith,  Stationed  Preacher.  1836-7, 
James  Havens,  Presiding  Elder;  A  Eddy,  Stationed  Preacher.  1837-8,  A.  Eddy, 
Presiding  Elder;  J.  C.  Smith,  Stationed  Preacher.  1838-9,  A.  Eddy,  Presiding 
Elder;  A.  Wiley,  Stationed  Preacher.  1839-40,  A.  Eddy,  Presiding  Elder;  A.  Wiley, 
Stationed  Preacher.  1840-1,  James  Havens  Presiding  Elder;  W.  H.  Goode,  Sta- 
tioned Preacher.  1841-2,  James  Havens,  Presiding  Elder;  W.'H.  Goode,  Stationed 
Preacher. 

1842-3'— "Indianapolis  station"  having  been  divided  into  two  charges,  James 
Havens  was  appointed  Presiding  Elder,  and  L.  W.  Berry  Stationed  Preacher,  of  the 
Western  charge  (Wesley  Chapel). 

1843-4 — Same  appointments.  A  building  committee,  consisting  of  Alfred  Har- 
rison, Thos.  Rickards,  and  Bentley  Alley,  was  appointed  to  erect  a  parsonage  build- 
ing on  the  church  lot. 

1844-5 — L.  W.  Berry,  Presiding  Elder,  and  W.  W.  Hibben,  stationed  preacher, 
Superintendent  Sabbath-Schools,  J.  J.  Drum,  A.  W.  Morris  and  Mrs.  Eliza  Drum. 

1845-6 — L.  W.  Berry,  Presiding  Elder;  Wm.  V.  Daniels,  Stationed  Preacher, 

1846-7 — Rev.  E.  R.  Ames,  Presiding  Elder,  and  W.  V.  Daniels  Stationed 
Preachers.  Salary  of  Stationed  Preacher,  $550. 

1847-8— Rev.  E.  R.  Ames,  Presiding  Elder;  Rev.  F.  C-  Holliday,  Stationed 
Preacher.  Same  salary. 

1848-9 — Same  appointments.     Salary  of  Preacher  increased  to  $600 

1849-50— Rev.  E.  R.  Ames,  Presiding  Elder;  Rev,  J.  S.  Bayless,  Stationed 
Preacher.  Salary  of  latter,  $500. 

1850-51— Rev.  C.  W.  Ruter,  Presiding  Elder;  Rev.  B.  F.  Crary  Stationed 
Preacher.  Salary,  $600. 

1851-2 — James  Havens,  Presiding  Elder;  Giles  E.  Smith,  Stationed  Preacher. 

1852-3 — B.  F.  Crary,  Presiding  Elder;  John  Kurns,  Stationed  Preacher. 
Salary  of  preacher,  f  700. 

1853-4 — B.  F.  Crary,  Presiding  Elder;   J.  P.  Linderman,  Stationed  Preacher. 

1854-5 — B.  F.  Crary,  Presiding  Elder;  James  H.  Noble,  Stationed  Preacher. 

1856-7 — W.  C.  Smith,  Presiding  Elder;  James  Hill,  Stationed  Preacher. 

1858-9— Wm.  C.  Smith,  Presiding  Elder;  E  T.  Fletcher,  Stationed  Preacher. 

1860-2 — Jas.  H  Noble,  Presiding  Elder;  C.  D.  Battelle,  Stationed  Preacher. 

1862-4— Jas  Hill,  Presiding  Elder;  S.  T.  Gillett,  Stationed  Preacher. 

1864-6— James  Hill,  Presiding  Elder;  Wm.  McK.  Hester,  Stationed  Preacher. 

1866-7— S.  T.  Gillett,  Presiding  Elder;  Wm.  McK.  Hester,  Stationed  Preacher. 

1867-8— S.  T.  Gillett,  Presiding  Elder;  C.  N.  Sims,  Stationed  Preacher. 

1868-70 — B.  F.  Rawlins.  Presiding  Elder;  C.  N.  Sims,  Stationed  Preacher. 

1870-71 — B.  F.  Rawlins,  Presiding  Elder;  R.  Andrus,  Stationed  Preacher. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  numbers  five  hundred  and  four;  that 
xjf  the  Sabbath-School,  four  hundred  and  eighty-nine. 

The  pastoral  labor  is  performed  by  Rev.  Reuben  Andrus. 

The  following  persons  constitute  the  "Official  Board,"  who,  in  their  respective 
departments,  supply  the  work  of  the  church  : 

Trustees — Oliver  Tousey,  Ingram  Fletcher,  A.  Ballard,  V.  T.  Malott,  Daniel 
Stewart,  J.  H.  Ross,  Jacob  P.  Dunn,  Dr.  H.  E.  Carey,  C.  W.  Smith. 


228  HOLLOWA'-FB  INDIANAPOLIS. 

Stewards — J.  F.  Ramsey,  J.  C.  Yohn,  T.  P.  Haughey,  Jason  Carey,  Aaron. 
Ohr,  J.  M.  Kidenour,  F.  A.  W.  Davis,  J.  H.  Colclazer,  J.  H.  Osborn. 

Class  Leaders.— R.  Ferguson,  T.  P.  Haughty,  A.  Ballard,  R.  S.  Carr,  I.  Tay- 
lor, B.  V.  Enos 

Local  Preachers.— E.  T.  Fletcher,  T.  A.  Goodwin,  J.  0.  McCoy,  R.  Ferguson. 

Committees.  Missionary, — J.  M.  Ridenour,  C.  W.  Smith,  Charles  Dennis, 
Wilson  Morrow. 

Sunday-School.— Dr.  H.  G.  Gary,  C.  W.  Smith,  R.  S.  Carr. 

Tract  Cause. — R.  Ferguson,.  J.  H.  Ross,  Aaron  Ohr 

The  principal  officers  of  the  Sabbath-School  are : 

Superintendents. — Wilson  Morrow,  H.  G.  Carey,  Mrs.  Theo.  P.  Haughey. 

Secretaries. — J.  H.  Colclazer,  Miss  Annie  Dunlop. 

Treasurer. — J.  S.  Carey. 

Fifty  per  cent,  of  the  entire  school  are  adults,  and  about  one-half  of  the  mem- 
bership of  the  church,  including  twenty-one  out  of  twenty-three  of  the  active  mem- 
bers of  the  official  board,  are  engaged  in  the  Sabbath-Sxjhool. 

The  church  edifice  has  a  front  of  seventy-three  feet  on  Meridian  street,  and  a 
depth  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  feet  on  New  York  street.  Its  walls,  towers 
and  buttresses  are  built  of  a  bluish-looking  lime  stone,  with  cut-stone  trimmings, 
and  irregularly  laid  and  neatly  pointed.  The  style  of  its  architecture  is  the  Mod- 
ern Gothic;  after  designs  of  Messrs.  Enos  &  Huebner,  of  this  city.  Externally 
the  principal  feature  of  the  building  is  the  front,  the  center  of  which  is  flanked  on 
either  side  by  a  graceful,  buttressed  tower,  terminating  in  a  lofty  spire  (not  yet  com- 
pleted). The  center  terminates  in  a  high  gable,  surmounted  by  the  Rock  of  Ages — 
the  Cross  of  Christ.  On  each  side  of  the  center  are  wings,  whose  corners  are 
strengthened  and  ornamented  by  buttressed  turrets.  The  sides  of  the  walls  are 
also  buttressed. 

The  entrance  is  by  three  large  doors,  whose  arches  are  supported  by  richly 
ornamented  columns.  Above  the  entrance  is  a  large  and  very  beautiful  rose  win- 
dow>  elaborately  ornamented.  The  entrance  is  into  a  spacious  vestibule,  leading 
into  the  lecture  room  in  the  first  story,  and  into  the  audience  room  in  the  second 
story.  The  first  story  contains  the  lecture  room,  Mxty-two  by  forty-six  feet;  two 
infant  class  rooms,  ladies'  parlors,  the  class  room,  and  the  pastor's  study.  The 
windows  of  this  story  are  all  of  beautiful  stained  glass.  From  the  rear  of  the  first 
story  a  long  winding  stairway  leads  to  the  audience  room. 

But  it  is  in  the  decorations  and  appointments  of  the  audience-room  that  this 
edifice  especially  excels.  Its  dimensions  are  sixty-six  by  eighty-seven  feet.  Its- 
height  at  the  sides  is  twenty-six  feet;  at  the  center,  forty-three  feet.  The  ceiling  is 
highly  ornamented.  The  pews,  which  are  of  elegant  pattern  and  finish,  are-cur -i- 
linearly  arranged.  The  most  artistic  features- are  its  elaborately  ornamented  win- 
dows, each  one  of  which  typifies  in  its  design,  some  one  of  the  prominent  attributes- 
ef  the  Christian  religion.  This  room  will  easily  seat  one  thousand  persons^ 

The  total  cost  of  the  property  will  be  about  $100,000. 

ROBERTS   PARK   M.    E.   CHURCH. 

Location:     Corner  of  Delaware  and  Vermont  streets. 

This  society  was  organized  in  October,  1842,  by  a  division  of  the  Meridian 
Street  congregation  (then  called  "  Wesley  Chapel,"  and  worshiping  on  the  corner 
of  Circle  and  Meridian  streets)-  The  new  congregation  was  called  "The  Eastern 


229 

Oharge " — the  city  being  then  divided  by  the  Conference  into  two  charges  sepa- 
rated by  Meridian  street. 

The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  John  S.  Bayless;  the  first  place  of  -worship,  the 
Court  house.  At  the  end  of  the  first  year  the  membership  numbered  three  hundred 
and  twenty-two. 

The  society  was  active  and  energetic  from  the  first;  and  within  a  short  period 
after  its  organization,  it  had  erected  a  commodious  church  building  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  Pennsylvania  and  Market  streets,  which  was  christened  Roberts 
Chapel,  in  honor  of  the  famous  Bishop  Roberts.  This  building,  so  long  a  religious 
landmark  of  the  city,  gave  way  in  1868  to  the  encroaching  march  of  commerce-; 
and  the  same  reasons  that  made  its  site  valuable  to  the  uses  of  trade,  also  recom- 
mended the  purchase  of  a  new  site  for  the  church,  less  surrounded  by  the  noise 
of  business,  and  more  appropriate  for  Divine  worship.  So  the  venerable  building 
disappeared,  and  on  its  site  a  business  block  was  erected. 

The  congregation  purchased  an  acre  of  ground,  fronting  on  Delaware  and  Ver- 
mont streets ;  and  in  the  center  of  this  ample  space  a  splendid  and  substantial  edi- 
fice is  rising.  Pending  its  erection  the  congregation  have  been  worshiping  in  an 
old  frame  building,  near  the  location  of  the  new  edifice,  which  has  -been  aptly 
named  Roberts'  Chapel  Tabernacle. 

The  elegant  structnre  now  in  process  of  erection  is  in  the  Renaissance  style  of 
architecture,  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  by  seventy  feet,  and  will  be  sur- 
mounted by  a  lofty  spire.  The  walls  will  be  of  white  magnesia  lime  stone. 

The  entrance  to  the  main  audience  room  is  from  the  west,  fronting  on  Delaware 
street.  The  entrance  to  the  lecture  room  is  from  the  south  side  of  the  church, 
fronting  on  Vermont  street ;  the  entrance  is  into  a  short  hall,  on  the  east  side  of 
which  is  the  Sabbath-School  and  church  libraiy  room.  There  are  two  large  double 
doors  from  this  hall,  one  opening  into  the  lecture  room,  and  the  other  into  the 
church  parlor  and  infant  class  room.  Its  dimension  are  fifty  by  sixty-two  feet,  and 
including  the  church  parlor  and  infant  class  room,  which  connect  with  it  by  large 
folding  doors,  will  be  capable  of  seating  eight  hundred  persons.  The  wood  work 
is  of  oiled  ash.  The  ceiling  is  divided  into  nine  large  pannels,  with  elegant  wooden 
cornices;  and  from  the  center  df  each  pannel  hangs  a  chandalier.  The  room  is 
lighted  by  six  double  windows.  All  the  windows  of  the  church  are  of  ground 
glass;  the  body  of  each  light  is  plain,  with  a  vine  border  around  the  edge.  The 
upper  part  of  each  window  is  semi-circnlar,  and  furnished  with  a  beautiful  emblem 
or  motto.  The  main  audience  room  will  seat  one  thousand  three  hundred  persons. 
A  gallery  will  encircle  the  auditorium  around  its  entire  extent.  The  organ 
loft  and  singers'  gallery  will  be  in  the  rear  of  the  pulpit.  The  estimated  cost  of 
the  building,  including  the  site,  is  $150,000. 

The  congregation  has  been  characterized  by  great  spirituality  and  energy  as  a 
religious  organization,  and  has  set  off  several  flourishing  colonies:  Asbury  Church, 
on  South  New  Jersey  street;  Trinity,  on  the  corner  of  North  and  Alabama  streets;. 
and  Grace  Church,  on  the  corner  of  East  and  Market  streets,  are  all  offshoots  from 
Roberts,  Chapel. 

The  church  membership  numbers  five  hundred  and  twenty-seven  ;  that  of  the 
Sabbath-School,  three  hundred  and  fifty-two. 

Roberts  Park  Church  has  been  served  by  the  following  pastors,  in  the  order 
given : 

Revs.  John  S.  Bayless,  John  L.  Smith,  George  M.  Beswick,  Samuel  T.  Gillett, 
.John  H.  Hall,  William  Wilson,  Samuel  T.  Cooper,  William  H.  Barn«s,  J.  W.  T.. 


230  BOLLOWAT'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

McMullen,  C.  W.  Miller,  W.  Wilson,  H.  Colclazer,  John  V.  R.  Miller,  A.  S.  Rinnan,. 
W.  H.  Mendenhall,  F.  C.  Holliday.  The  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Holliday, 
BOW  in  the  third  year  of  his  pastorate,  is  widely  knowa,  as  well  without  as  within 
his  denomination,  as  an  able  and  effective  minister — a  conspicuous  light,  for  many 
years,  in  the  Methodist  church  of  Indiana. 

The  principal  officers  of  the  church  are:  Rev.  F.  C.  Bolliday,  D.  !>.,  Pastor; 
John  B.  Abbett,  Local  Elder;  Thomas  A.  Nelson,  Local  Preacher;  George  W. 
Ackert,  Local  Preacher. 

Church  Trustees — Dr.  L.  Abbett,  John  W.  Ray,  A.  &.  Porter,  George  Tousey, 
Frederick  Baggs,  J.  F.  Wingate,  W.  H.  Craft. 

Sunday-School  Superintendent,  John  W.  Ray;  Assistant  Superintendent,  W. 
L.  Heiskell ;  Female  Superintendent,  Mra.  Anna  C.  Baggs. 

ST.  JOHN'S  M.  K.  CHURCH. 

Location:     Corner  of  California  and  North  streets-. 

This  society  was  organized  under  the  name  of  the  Western  Charge  (west  of 
the  canal),  in  the  year  1845;.  The  first  minister  appointed  to  the  charge  was  the 
Rev.  Wesley  Dorsey. 

A  frame  building  for  the  use  of  the  congregation  was  built  on  Michigan  street, 
west  of  the  canal,  and  christened  Strange  Chapel,  in  honor  of  Rev.  John  Strange, 
an  eminent  and  honored  pioneer  of  the  Methodist  church  in  Indiana,  whose  remains- 
lie  in  the  old  cemetery  of  this  city.  This  building  soon  proved  to  be  disadvanta- 
geously  located,  and  it  was  aceordingly  removed  to  a  site  on  Tennessee  street,  near 
Vermont. 

At  a  quarterly  meeting  conference,  held  January  12th,  1869,  the  following 
resolution  was  adopted  and  put  upon  the  minutes: 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Quarterly  Conference,  that  the  prosperity 
of  the  charge,  spiritually  and  financially,  will  be  promoted  by  its  adherence  to  the 
old  usages  of  the  church,  especially  in  the  seating  of  the  congregation,  and  sing- 
ing; and  that  the  Conference  hereby  pledge  the  charge  to  stand  by  these  usages." 

This  resolution  was  passed  to  accommodate  some  wealthy  members,  who  did  not 
believe  in  promiscuous  or  pew  sittings,  nor  in  choral  or  instrumental  music.  The 
result  was  the  withdrawal  of  about  one-half  of  the  membership  from  the  church 
by  letter,  and  the  addition  of  but  four  or  five  other  members  to  the  church  during 
the  ensuing  quarter. 

During  the  year  1869  the  church  property  on  West  Michigan  street  was  sold, 
and  a  new  house  of  worship  built,  located  on  the  corner  of  Michigan  and  Tennessee 
streets.  This  building,  erected  at  a  cost  of  $13,000,  was  dedicated  on  the  9th  of 
t^nuary,  1870.  To  secure  the  further  religious  exercises  of  the  congregation 
against  all  innovations  on  "old  fashioned  Methodism,"  provisions  to  that  effect 
were  incorporated  in  the  body  of  the  conveyance  of  the  site.  The  edifice  dedica- 
ted to  these  principles  stood  but  one  year,  and  was  consumed  by  fire  on  Sunday, 
the  8th  January,  1871. 

Several  months  prior  to  the  latter  date,  the  membership  had  become  divided 
on  the  question  of  receiving  the  pastor  appointed  by  the  Conference.  The  ma- 
jority, but  least  wealthy,  of  the  members  were  worshiping  in  Strange  Chapel  at 
the  time  of  its  destruction  by  fire.  The  other  division,  the  lesser  in  numbers,  the 
greater  in  wealth,  had  been  worshiping  in  the  building  of  the  Second  Universalist 
church  congregation,  over  the  way  from  Strange  ChapeL 


RELIGIOUS.  231 

The  church  property — that  portion  which  had  not  been  destroyed  by  fire — was 
sold;  and  the  remainder  of  the  congregation,  at  length  a  unit  in  belief  and  action, 
have  since  held  their  religious  services  in  Kuhn's  Hall,  with  Mr.  Walters  as  pastor. 

The  third  quarterly  conference,  held  March  6th,  1871,  appointed  a  committee 
to  purchase  a  lot  on  which  to  erect  a  house  of  worship.  A  building  committee  con- 
sisting of  D.  B.  Hosbrook,  Kev.  G.  Morgan  and  J.  A.  Gregg,  were  appointed  and 
invested  with  plenary  power  to  devise  plans  and  erect  a  suitable  building  for  the 
use  of  the  congregation. 

By  a  unanimous  vote  the  name  of  the  church  was  changed  to  St.  John's 
M.  E.  Church,  and  the  leaders'  and  stewards'  meetings,  and  boards  of  trustees,  were 
authorized  to  transact  business  hereafter  under  that  name. 

The  purchasing  committee  has  selected  a  lot  on  the  corner  of  California  and 
North  streets,  sixty  by  ninety-five  feet,  for  which  $1,400  was  paid,  and  on  which 
a  church  is  to  be  built,  in  the  Norman  style  of  architecture,  to  cost  from  $12,000  to 
$15,000.  The  church  is  to  be  completed  by  the  1st  of  July,  1871,  with  the  Kev. 
L.  M.  Walters,  as  pastor. 

The  society,  dating  from  the  last  schism,  is  reported  to  be  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition. The  present  membership  numbers  about  one  hundred  and  forty.  The  Sab- 
bath-School has  one  hundred  and  fifty  members. 

From  Strange  Chapel  sprung  a  flourishing  local  mission  enterprise,  which  has 
since  become  the  Third  Street  M.  E.  Church,  elsewhere  mentioned. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  pastors  who  have  served  Strange  Chapel  since  its 
organization : 

Rev.  Wesley  Dorsey,  Rev.  D.  Crawford,  Rev.  Wm.  Morrow,  Rev.  T.  G.  Behar- 
rell,  Rev.  Frank  Taylor,  Rev.  E.  D.  Long,  Rev.  T.  S.  Webb,  Rev.  G.  M.  Boyd, 
Rev.  Griffith  Morgan,  Rev.  William  Graham,  Rev.  N.  L.  Brakeman,  Rev.  J.  C. 
Reed,  Rev.  James  Havens,  Rev.  J.  W.  Green,  Rev.  C.  S.  Burgner,  Rev.  G.  W. 
Telle,  Rev.  J.  W.  T.  McMullen,  and  Rev.  L.  M.  Walters. 

ASliURY   M.   E.   CHURCH. 

Location:     New  Jersey  street  between  Louisiana  and  South  streets. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1849,  under  the  name  of  the  Depot  and  Indian- 
apolis East  Mission.  It  was  a  colony  of  Roberts  Chapel  Church,  to  which  con- 
gregation collectively,  and  to  the  Rev.  William  H.  Goode,  Presiding  Elder  of  the 
Indianapolis  District  of  the  Northern  Indiana  Conference  especially,  it  owes  its 
existence  as  a  church.  The  original  membership  was  composed  entirely  of  Metho- 
dists residing  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city,  and  who  had  previously  been  mem- 
bers of  Roberts  Chapel  Church. 

During  the  period  of  its  wardship  to  Roberts  Chapel,  Asbury  Church  was 
controlled  and  sustained  by  the  quarterly  conference  of  that  body,  aided  by  a 
small  missionary  appropriation  from  the  North  Indiana  Conference.  Its  first  pas- 
tor, the  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Cooper,  was  a  member  of  Roberts  Chapel  Quarterly  Con- 
ference. 

The  first  stewards  of  the  Depot  Mission,  John  Dunn,  Theodore  Mathews, 
John  E.  Ford,  Miles  J.  Fletcher,  and  Rich&rd  Berry,  were  elected  by  the  quar- 
terly conference  of  Roberts  Chapel  Church,  on  the  17th  of  November,  1849.  The 
connection  of  the  mission  with  the  parent  body,  and  its  dependence  thereon,  con- 
tinued until  the  9th  of  November,  1850. 

The  members  of  this  young  organization  seem  to  have  had  their  full  share  of 


232  HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

difficulties  and  deprivations  to  encounter  in  rearing  the  infant  charge  to  the  stat- 
ure of  a  grown-up  and  self-supporting  church.  In  default  of  a  better,  they  used 
as  a  place  of  worship  an  upper  room  in  the  freight  depot  of  the  Madison  and 
Indianapolis  Railroad  Company,  until  the  erection  of  their  present  church  build- 
ing, which  was  dedicated  in  the  summer  of  1852.  Henceforth,  the  obstacles  were 
few,  and  the  progress  was  more  rapid  and  less  interrupted.  The  church  is  now  in 
a  prosperous  condition,  having  a  membership  of  two  hundred  and  fifty,  and  a  nour- 
ishing Sabbath-School  of  two  hundred  members. 

The  pastors  of  the  church  have  been  as  follow,  in  the  order  given: 

Kev.  Samuel  T.  Cooper,  Kev.  J.  B.  De  Motte,  Kev.  Samuel  T  Gillett,  Kev.  Samuel 
P.  Crawford,  Eev.  J.  W.  T.  McMullen,  Rev.  Joseph  Cotton,  Rev.  Asbury  F.  Hes- 
ter, Rev.  E.  D.  Long,  Rev.  John  G.  Chaffee.  Rev.  R.  M.  Barnes,  Rev.  W.  W.  Sny- 
der,  Rev.  J.  W.  Mellender,  Rev.  F.  C.  Holliday,  Rev.  John  H.  Lozier,  Rev.  Sam- 
uel T.  Gillett,  and  Rev.  Charles  Tinsley. 

The  present  officers  are : 

Pastor. — Rev.  Charles  Tinsley. 

Trustees. — Joseph  Marsee,  William  Hannaman,  George  W.  Hill,  Valentine 
Rothrock,  and  William  L.  Wingate. 

Stewards. — George  W.  Hill,  R.  L.  Lukens,  George  W.  Crouch,  Andrew  May, 
W.  K.  Davis,  James  Fisler,  Isaiah  G.  Shafer,  and  Jacob  Coffman. 

Sabbath-School  Snperindent — James  H.  V.  Smith. 

The  value  of  the  church  building  and  site  is  about  $15,000. 

The  church  owns  a  valuable  lot  on  the  south-east  corner  of  South  street  and 
and  Virginia  avenue,  valued  at  $10,000,  on  which  it  is  proposed  to  erect  a  house  of 
worship  next  year. 

TBINITT   M.   E.    CHURCH. 

Location :     North-west  corner  of  North  and  Alabamba  streets. 

On  the  17th  May,  1854,  a  class  of  sixteen  members  of  Roberts  Chapel,  led  by 
J.  W.  Dorsey,  Esq.,  met  and  organized  as  the  "  Seventh  Church."  The  place  of 
meeting  then,  and  during  the  remainder  of  the  year,  was  "Dorsey's  School  House," 
a  small  frame  building,  on  the  west  side  of  North  New  Jersey  street,  north  of 
Walnut. 

The  Sabbath-School  was  at  first  larger  than  the  church  membership,  and  in  a 
short  time  the  house  of  worship  became  too  small  for  the  society.  The  present 
location  was  then  purchased;  on  one  side  of  which,  by  the  end  of  the  year  1854,  a 
plain  brick  church  building  was  erected.  Here  the  society,  young  and  feeble, 
looking  unpropitious  circumstances  resolutely  in  the  face,  began  an  earnest  strug- 
gle for  existence;  and  in  the  succeeding  years  has  made  gradual  and  sure  progress 
over  a  way  hedged  up  with  formidable  trials  and  obstacles. 

The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Mr.  Griffin,  who  served  six  months.  At  the  end 
of  his  term,  the  name  of  the  society  was  changed  to  North  Street  M.  E.  Church. 

Following  Mr.  Griffin,  as  pastor,  came  Revs.  William  Holman,  for  three 
months;  John  C.  Smith,  one  year  and  nine  months;  Frank  A.  Harding,  one  year 
and  six  months,  Jchn  Hill,  two  years;  C.  P.  Wright,  one  year;  Charles  Martin- 
dale,  six  months.  Rev.  Elijah  Whitten  filled  out  the  remainder  of  Mr.  Martin- 
dale's  year,  as  supply. 

For  the  years  1862  and  1863,  the  charge  was  left  to  be  "supplied,"  various 
local  preachers  officiating,  until  Rev.  George  Betts,  for  a  brief  period,  and  after 


RELIGIOUS.  233 

him,  Rev.  William  Wilson,  were  regularly  employed.  In  April,  1864,  the  Rev. 
W.  J.  Vigus  was  appointed  to  the  charge.  The  Missionary  Society  appropriated 
$300  in  payment  of  his  salary.  Mr.  Vigus  served  three  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1867  the  Rev.  R.  D.  Robinson  succeeded  Mr.  Vigus ;  aod  it  was 
during  his  pastorate  that  the  church  for  the  first  time  became  self-sustaining. 

By  the  action  of  the  General  Conference  of  1868  on  the  question  of  boundaries, 
this  church  was  transferred  from  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Northern  to  that  of  the 
South-Eastern  Indiana  Conference.  In  September  of  the  same  year  the  Rev.  J. 
Monroe  Crawford,  the  present  pastor,  was  appointed.  Mr.  Crawford  has  been 
more  than  a  pastor,  simply,  of  the  church;  he  has  at  the  same  time  labored  unre- 
mittingly, and  with  great  success,  to  rescue  the  church  from  financial  embarrass- 
ments. 

The  following  clergymen  have  served  the  charge  as  Presiding  Elders:  Revs. 
James  Hill,  Augustus  Eddy,  H.  Barnes,  J.  V.  R.  Miller,  and  R.  D.  Robinson,  the 
present  Presiding  Elder. 

The  Sabbath-School  has  flourished  from  the  first;  now  having  an  average 
attendance  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-five,  and  an  enrolled  membership  of  three 
hundred  and  fifty.  Its  present  Superintendent  is  Eli.  F.  Ritter,  Esq. 

The  church  has  a  total  membership  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-three,  including 
the  members  on  probation. 

The  present  house  of  worship  was  dedicated  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  January, 
1867,  by  the  Rev.  T.  M.  Eddy,  D.  D.  The  society  now  took  its  present  name  of 
Trinity  M.  E.  Church. 

The  building — yet  in  an  unfinished  condition — is  built  of  brick,  with  stone 
trimmings;  dimensions,  fifty  by  eighty  feet;  is  pleasantly  located;  and  is  pro 
vided  with  permanent  sittings  for  six  hundred  and  twenty-eight  persons.  The 
property  is  valued  at  about  $20,000. 

The  officers  of  the  society  are :  John  G.  Smith,  Local  Elder ;  Christian  Spie- 
gle,  John  S.  Dunlop,  Eli  F.  Ritter,  W.  H.  Smith,  Rev.  Henry  Wright,  Trustees. 

AMES    M.  E.    CHURCH. 

Location :  Corner  of  Madison  Avenue  and  Union  street. 

The  history  of  this  church,  though  brief  in  chronology,  is  abundant  in  peculiar 
interest.  Its  establishment  to-day  on  a  firm  and  prosperous  footing  is  not  due  to 
the  liberality  of  an  opulent  membership,  nor  to  any  considerable  extent  to  extrin- 
sic assistance,  nor  to  propitious  chance ;  but  pre-eminently  to  the  persistent  energy 
of  a  few  persons  of  limited  means. 

Ames  Church  was  organized  by  Rev.  Joseph  Tarkington,  while  he  was  city 
missionary  for  the  four  Annual  Indiana  Conferences,  whose  boundaries  meet  at  In- 
dianapolis. The  field  of  the  young  church  being  within  the  limits  of  the  Indiana 
Conference,  a  few  members  of  Wesley  Chapel  purchased  a  lot  on  the  corner  of  Nor- 
wood and  South  Illinois  streets,  upon  which  a  small,  rude  tabernacle  was  placed,  in 
July,  1866.  In  this  humble  structure  Mr.  Tarkington  held  services  fortnightly; 
until  the  cold  weather  forced  him  to  abandon  the  place.  But  "  where  there  is  a 
will  there  is  a  way;  "  and  accordingly  we  find  the  young  congregation  worshiping 
for  the  next  three  months  in  an  unoccupied  grocery  building,  on  Madison  avenue. 
While  thus  situated,  in  February,  1867,  a  society,  comprised  of  twelve  members, 
was  organized;  a  series  of  meetings  followed;  and  a  number  of  additions  to  the 


234  HOLLOWArs  INDIANAPOLIS. 

church,  on  probation,  were  made.  A  Sabbath-School  was  organized  on  the  1st  of 
February,  1867. 

On  a  lot,  purchased  for  the  purpose  by  members  of  Wesley  Chapel,  an  unpre- 
tending place  of  worship  for  the  congregation — twenty-four  by  forty  feet — waa 
meanwhile  being  erected.  This  was  completed  in  March,  1867,  and  was  occupied 
by  the  congregation  during  the  same  month. 

In  September,  1867,  the  Indiana  Conference  made  an  appropriation  of  §650, 
from  the  missionary  funds,  for  the  partial  support  of  a  pastor  for  the  young  church, 
and  Rev.  L  M.  Walters  was  appointed  to  the  charge.  On  entering  upon  his  duties 
he  found  a  congregation  consisting  of  but  twenty-one  available  members,  and  five 
probationers.  The  first  fruit  of  his  pastorate  was  a  revival  of  religion,  during 
the  following  winter,  resulting  in  the  addition  of  nearly  one  hundred  members. 
The  church  now  began  to  flourish  ;  the  house  was  insufficient;  an  addition  was 
built  in  the  summer  of  1868,  and  this,  too,  was  shortly  filled.  The  increase  of 
membership  was  so  considerable,  that  the  winter  of  1868,  found  the  building  still 
inadequate.  But  the  members  were  more  abundant  in  exemplary  zeal,  than  in 
this  world's  goods ;  and  were  unable  to  build  the  sort  of  an  edifice  their  numbers 
and  needs  required.  External  aid  was  sought  to  no  purpose;  the  time  was  un- 
propitious;  the  wealthier  Methodist  Churches  of  the  city,  were  too  much  occupied 
with  their  own  enterprises,  to  aid  the  young  and  struggling  church.  Its  prospects 
were  anything  but  promising.  Here  was  a  house  full  of  poor  members,  unable  to 
support  the  present  establishment ;  no  space  for  the  necessary  increase  of  accom- 
modations ;  and  no  means  at  hand,  or  prospect  of  aid  from  without,  to  obtain  a 
suitable  site  and  erect  a  suitable  building. 

So  discouraging  was  the  prospect,  that  many  of  the  members  had  about  come 
to  the  conclusion  to  disunite  with  the  church,  and  join  some  other  society,  better 
established,  and  free  from  unusual  financial  difficulties,  as  a  means  of  ridding  them- 
selves of  present  and  prospective  church  burdens. 

The  pastor,  seeing  that  the  church  must  take  prompt  and  energetic  action,  if 
it  was  not  to  perish  untimely,  opened  a  vigorous  campaign  against  the  discouraging 
forces,  and,  over  considerable  opposition,  effected  the  purchase  of  the  Indian- 
apolis Mission  Sunday-School  property,  on  the  corner  of  Madison  avenue  and 
Union  street.  The  price  was  $5,000 ;  for  the  payment  of  which  a  period  of  five 
years  was  allowed.  This  gave  the  church  a  substantial  brick  building,  forty  by 
seventy-two  feet;  which  they  have  occupied  ever  since  June,  1869.  The  congrega- 
tion, in  addition  to  the  purchase  money,  have  expended  §1,500  on  repairs  and  im- 
provements. 

By  an  advantageous  sale  of  their  church  property,  on  South  Illinois  street,  for 
$4,000,  the  congregation  have  almost  liquidated  the  debt  incurred  in  obtaining 
their  present  church  property,  and  the  remainder  of  the  debt  will  not  mature  for 
four  years.  The  church,  meanwhile,  has  flourished  and  become  stronger ;  and,  at 
length,  after  a  succession  of  financial  embarrassments,  and  a  steady  progress  from 
a  small  beginning,  Ames  Church,  in  the  fourth  year  of  its  age,  is  a  fixed  and  flour- 
ishing society.  Within  the  past  three  years  there  has  been  expended  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  church  an  aggregate  of  about  $8,750;  of  which  about  57,000  was  raised 
within  the  church. 

The  membership  now  numbers  about  two  hundred  persons.  The  audience  room 
will  seat  comfortably  about  three  hundred ;  and  if  the  church  will  nofr  compare 
in  splendor  or  magnitude  with  the  older  and  more  pretentious  ones  in  this  city, 


RELIGIOUS.  235 

it  can  challenge  any  of  them  to  show  better  results  in  proportion  to  the  means  of 
each.  The  Sabbath-School  has  about  .two  hundred  and  twenty-five  members.  The 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  Joseph  W.  Asbury. 

The  church  is  under  many  obligations  to  Wesley  Chapel  for  aid  and  encourage- 
ment in  its  darkest  days.  To  the  Rev.  Mr.  "Walters  praise  is  due  for  his  unwearying 
patience  and  disinterested  labors  in  an  untempting  field,  to  rescue  the  church 
from  its  manifold  difficulties,  and  establish  it  on  a  firm  and  enduring  basis,  when 
so  many  embarrassments  and  discouragements  combined  against  the  struggling 
society. 

GRACE   M.   C    CHURCH. 

Location  :   North-east  corner  of  Market  and  East  streets. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  friends  of  a  missionary  movement  for  the  planting  of  a 
Methodist  church  in  the  eastern  part  of  Indianapolis,  held  on  the  10th  September, 
1868,  the  following  memorial  was  adopted: 

"  We,  the  undersigned,  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  residing  in  and  near 
Indianapolis,  respectfully  represent : 

1.  That  there  is  a  large  field  ripe  for  the  harvest,  embracing  the  eastern  part 
of  our  city,  occupied  by  our  denomination,  and  which  only  requires  vigorous  culti- 
vation to  produce  much  fruit  for  our  beloved  Methodism. 

2  That  we  hereby  pledge  ourselves  to  sustain  to  the  best  of  our  ability,  a 
missionary  movement  for  the  occupancy  of  this  inviting  field,  both  by  personal 
identification  with  such  organization,  and  the  contribution  of  our  means. 

3.  That  we  promise  to  pay  the  amount  set  opposite  our  names,  to  sustain  a 
missionary  appointed  for  this  work. 

4.  That  we  believe  the  sum  of  $5,000  can  be  raised  to  build  a  house  of  wor- 
ship, and  we  pledge  ourselves  to  go  forward  at  once  in  the  enterprise  of  building  a 
church  for  the  use  of  such  congregation." 

The  memorial  asked  for  the  appointment  to  this  work  of  a  minister  of  "  zeal  and 
experience,"  and  was  signed  by  Willis  D.  Wright,  Charles  W.  Brouse,  W.  H. 
McLaughlin,  Arthur  L.  Wright,  William  Moffitt,  John  H.  Fraaier,  John  Berry- 
man,  J.  W.  Hossman,  Charles  Potts,  J.  M.  W.  Langsdale,  James  Ballenger,  W.  J. 
West,  W.  Q.  Smith  and  S.  T.  Beck.  J.  M.  W.  Langsdale,  Wm.  H.  McLaughlin 
and  Arthur  L.  Wright  were  appointed  a  committee  to  lay  the  memorial  before 
Bishop  D.  W.  Clark,  then  presiding  over  the  Southeastern  Indiana  Conference, 
in  session  at  Franklin,  Indiana. 

In  compliance  with  the  request  of  the  memorialists,  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Menden- 
hall,  who  had  served  Robert's  Chapel  as  its  pastor,  was  appointed  to  the  new 
charge. 

The  first  quarterly  meeting  was  held  on  the  19th  and  20th  of  September,  1868  ; 
at  the  close  of  which  one  hundred  members  from  Roberts'  (Jhapel  had  united  with 
the  mission.  •  The  first  quarterly  conference  was  organized  September  22d,  1868> 

A  suitable  site  for  a  house  of  worship  was  at  once  obtained ;  the  building  was 
rapidly  erected,  and  on  the  2lst  February,  1869,  it  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  D.  W. 
Clark. 

Rev.  M.  H.  Mendenhall  was  reappointed  by  Bishop  Simpson  at  the  session  of 
the  South-eastern  Indiana  Conference,  September,  1869,  and  served  the  charge  until 
April,  1870,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  North  Indiana  Conference,  and  Rev. 
J.  W.  Locke,  D.  D.,  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  until  the  close  of  the  Confer- 


236  HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

ence  year.  The  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  Thos.  H.  Lynch,  was  appointed  to  the 
charge  September  7th,  1870. 

Highly  successful  revival  services  have  been  held  in  this  church  from  time  to 
time,  and  there  is  not  in  the  city  a  congregation  that  has  made  better  progress,  con- 
sidering its  age. 

The  entire  cost  of  the  building,  including  site,  furniture,  and  other  appoint- 
ments, has  been  about  $20,000.  The  building  is  pleasantly  located,  is  inviting 
in  appearance  without  and  within,  and  has  seating  accommodations  for  about  six 
hundred  persons. 

The  church  membership  numbers  about  two  hundred  and  forty ;  that  of  the 
Sabbath-School,  over  three  hundred. 

THIRD    STBKET   M.    E.    CHURCH. 

Location  :     Third  street,  between  Illinois  and  Tennessee. 

In  July,  1866,  a  class  was  organized,  with  Jesse  Jones  as  leader,  and  a  mem- 
bership of  thirty-six  persons,  to  meet  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Ellison  Brown. 

This  class  was  the  origin  of  Third  Street  M.  E.  Church. 

In  the  spring  of  1866,  a  site  was  purchased  on  Third  street,  and  the  erection 
of  a  building  commenced,  under  the  direction  of  the  Ames  Institute,  intended  for 
a  mission  church.  Not  receiving  the  necessarry  support,  the  young  men  of  the 
institute  were  unable  to  finish  the  building;  and  Jesse  Jones,  a  member  of  Strange 
Chapel,  completed  the  work  at  his  own  expense. 

At  the  session  of  the  N  orth- Western  Indiana  Conference,  in  September,  of  that 
year,  the  church  was  placed  under  the  control  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Green,  of  Strange 
Chapel. 

Soon  after  this,  the  Kev.  A.  L.  Watkins,  was  made  associate  pastor  with  Mr. 
Green,  and  labored  successfully  in  the  new  church  for  four  months,  when  his  fail- 
ing health  compelled  him  to  abandon  his  work.  The  services  of  R.  N.  McKaig,  a 
student  of  Asbury  University,  were  secured  for  the  remainder  of  the  conference 
year. 

The  church  building  was  dedicated  September  8th,  1867,  by  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Bowman,  D.  D. 

At  the  session  of  the  North- Western  Indiana  Conference,  September,  1867, 
Third  Street  Church  was  made  art  independent  charge,  and  Rev.  S.  J.  Kahler  was 
appointed  pastor. 

The  boundaries  of  the  Indiana  Conferences  having  been  changed  by  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  1868,  Third  Street  Church  fell  within  the  limits  of  the  South- 
East  Indiana  Conference,. 

Rev.  S.  C.  Noble  was  the  pastor  during  1868-9;  and  Rev.  L.  M.  Wells,  during 
1869  '70.  The  Rev.  Frost  Craft,  the  present  pastor,  was  appointed  in  1870. 

The  church  edifice  is  a  neat  frame  building,  and  its  auditorium  has  seating  ca- 
pacity for  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  persons. 

The  membership  numbers  one  hundred  and  thirty ;  the  Sabbath-School,  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five. 

The  value  of  the  building  and  site  is  about  $6,000. 

GERMAN   M.   E.    CHURCH. 

Location :  Corner  of  New  Jersey  and  New  York  streets. 

This  congregation  was  organized  in  the  year  1849,  with  fifteen  members. 


SELIGIOU8.  237 

The  first  house  of  worship  was  built  in  1850,  on  Ohio  street,  between  New 
Jersey  and  East  streets.  The  first  Trustees  were:  Wm.  Hannaman,  Henry  Tute- 
wiler,  John  Keeper,  Frederick  Truxess,  John  B.  Stumph. 

The  growth  of  the  society  rendered  a  more  capacious  house  of  worship  a  neces- 
sity, and  on  the  19th  of  December,  1868,  the  site,  of  the  present  church  building, 
corner  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey  streets,  was  purchased.  The  erection  of  the 
building  was  much  delayed  by  the  want  of  the  requisite  means.  The  basement 
was  occupied  on  Christmas  day,  186S ;  and  through  the  persistent  energy  of  the  ' 
pastor,  the  Rev.  G.  Trefz,  and  the  liberality  of  his  congregation,  the  building  was 
finally  completed.  The  dedicatory  exercises  took  place  on  the  17th  day  of  Aprilr 
1871.  Sermons  were  preached  on  the  day  of  dedication  by  Professor  Loebenstein, 
of  Berea  College,  Ohio;  Dr.  William  Nast,  and  the  Rev.  H.  Liebhart. 

The  building  is  fifty-three  by  seventy-six  feet  in  size,  outside  dimensions.  The 
style  of  architecture  is  Byzantine,  and  the  material  of  the  structure  is  stone  and 
brick.  From  the  middle  of  the  roof  rises  a  tower,  fifteen  feet  square,  terminating 
in  a  spire  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  feet  in  hight.  The  interior  is  furnished  in 
artistic  style,  and  is  neatly  and  comfortably  appointed.  The  room  is  lighted  by 
twelve  Gothic  windows,  having  ground  glass  centers  and  colored  side  pieces.  The 
seating  capacity,  including  galleries,  is  seven  hundred  and  fifty,  although  a  thou- 
sand could  probably  gain  admittance.  The  room  is  lighted  at  night  by  a  ceiling 
gas  reflector,  seven  feet  and  a  half  in  diameter,  containing  forty-two  burners — the 
largest  single  reflector  in  the  city. 

The  pastors  have  been :  Rev.  John  Muth,  1849  to  1850;  Rev.  John  H.  Barth, 
1850  to  1852;  Rev.  John  H.  Bahrenberg,  1852  to  1854;  Rev.  G.  A.  Braunig,  1854 
to  1855;  Rev.  John  Bier,  1855  to  1856;  Rev.  John  H.  Luckemeyer,  1856  to  1857; 
Rev.  Max  Hohans,  1857  to  1858;  Rev.  G.  F.  Miller,  1858  to  1850;  Rev.  John  Hop- 
pen  (who  died  in  1861,  and  was  one  of  the  most  zealous  and  effective  ministers  in 
the  conference),  1860  to  1861;  Rev.  John  Schneider,  1861  to  1862;  Rev.  William 
Ahrens,  1862  to  1863;  Rev.  G.  A.  Braunig,  1863  to  1864;  Rev.  A.  Loebenstein, 
1864  to  1866;  Rev.  H.  G.  Lich,  1866  to  1868;  Rev.  G.  Trefz,  the  present  pastor, 
who  entered  upon  his  duties  in  1868. 

The  present  Trustees  are :  Frederick  Thorns,  Peter  Goth,  Frederick  Rapp, 
George  Albright,  Joseph  Long,  George  Hereth,  Gustave  Stark. 

The  present  membership  numbers  two  hundred  and  twenty-five;  the  Sabbath- 
School  has  twenty-four  officers  and  teachers,  and  two  hundred  pupils. 

The  cost  of  the  building  and  site  was  $27,500;  anl  the  society  is  virtually  out 
of  debt. 

MASSACHUSETTS   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

Location:  Corner  of  Massachusetts  avenue  and  Oak  street. 

This  society  was  organized  in  the  summer  of  1870,  under  the  pastoral  direction 
of  Rev.  B,  F.  Morgan,  with  about  eighty  members. 

The  Rev.  Amos  Hanway,  the  present  pastor,  was  appointed  by  Bishop  Scott,  in 
September,  1870. 

The  number  of  communicants  is  now  about  one  hundred  and  eighty ;  the  Sab- 
bath-School has  about  two  hundred  and  fifteen  members,  and  is  in  a  growing  condi- 
tion. 

The  church  site  and  building  are  worth  about  $4,000. 


238  HOLLOWArS  IXDIANAPOLIS. 

ALLEN   CHAPEL    (COLORED). 

Location :     On  Broadway  street,  between  Christian  Avenue  and  Cherry  street. 

This  society  was  organized  August  6th,  1866,  by  Bishop  Campbell ;  and  began 
with  only  eight  members.  In  the  same  year  the  conference  appointed  Elder  W.  S. 
Lankford  a  missionary  for  the  north-eastern  portion  of  the  city.  He  began  his 
labors  by  holding  religious  services  at  a  private  house  in  that  quarter  of  the  city. 
•Here  he  organized  a  Sabbath-School.  Steps  were  early  taken  to  procure  a  site  and 
erect  upon  it  a  house  of  worship  for  the  society.  By  the  aid  of  a  small  contribution 
from  the  conference,  and  larger  ones  from  individual  friends  of  the  enterprise,  the 
above  site  was  secured,  upon  which  a  neat  frame  building — thirty-six  by  forty-four 
feet,  having  a  seating  capacity  for  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  persons,  and  credit- 
able in  its  style  and  appointments — was  promptly  erected.  By  Christmas,  1866, 
the  society  had  occupied  their  new  building. 

Elder  Lankford  was  succeeded  in  the  pastorate,  at  the  expiration  of  one  year, 
by  Elder  Henry  Brown,  who  remained  one  year.  The  latter's  successor  was  the 
Rev.  Henry  PePugh,  the  present  pastor,  now  in  his  third  year. 

The  society  has  shown  great  energy  from  the  first,  and  has  had  a  correspond- 
ing prosperity.  Its  membership  now  numbers  about  two  hundred,  and  the  Sab- 
bath-School has  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  members.  The  value  of  the  property 
is  about  $5,000. 

BETHEL   CHAPEL    (COLORED.) 

Location:     Vermont  street,  between  Missouri  and  West  streets. 

This  society  was  organized  in  1836.  The  colored  population  of  the  city  at  that 
time,  and  for  many  years  following,  was  inconsiderable  in  number  and  limited  in 
means.  Consequently  the  society  prospered  indifferently,  and  contended  against 
many  difficulties.  For  several  years  the  religious  services  were  held  in  such 
buildings  as  the  means  of  the  society  enabled  them  to  secure — in  private  houses, 
etc.  Finally  a  site  was  secured  on  West  Georgia  street,  between  Mississippi  and 
the  Canal,  to  which  was  removed  the  discarded  building  formerly  used  by  the  con- 
gregation of  Christ  Church.  In  this  building  the  society  worshiped  for  several 
years;  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  July  9th,  1862. 

Several  years  later  the  property  on  Georgia  street  was  sold,  for  which  $3,000 
was  realized. 

The  society  secured  their  present  church  site,  on  Vermont  street,  between 
Missouri  and  West,  and  energetically  proceeded  to  erect  thereon  a  far  more  costly 
and  pretentious  building  than  the  one  tbjat  the  fire  had  destroyed.  Pending  its 
erection  and  dedication  the  congregation  worshipped  in  the  old  Strange  Chapel, 
on  North  Tennessee  Street. 

Though  their  new  house  of  worship  is  not  yet  completed,  the  audience  room 
has  for  some  time  been  occupied  by  the  congregation.  To  complete  it  and  extin- 
guish the  debt  of  the  society  will  require  several  thousand  dollars. 

It  is  quite  a  neat  and  commodious  structure,  and  will  seat  from  six  hundred  to 
eight  hundred  persons.  The  property  includes  a  parsonage,  adjacent  to  the  church 
building.  When  the  improvements  shall  have  been  completed,  the  value  of  the 
property  will  be  from  $25,000  to  $30,000. 

Owing  to  the  deficiency  of  the  records  of  this  church,  and  of  the  other  sources 
of  information  that  have  been  accessible  for  the  present  purpose,  it  has  not  been 


RELIGIOUS.  239 

. 

practicable  to  obtain  a  list  of  the  past  pastors  of  this  society.  The  present  pas- 
tor is  Eev.  W.  C.  Trevan  ;  and  particularly  prominent,  energetic  and  efficient  among 
his  predecessors,  was  the  Rev.  W.  R.  Kevels — a  brother  of  Ex-Senator  Revels,  of 
Mississippi — who  served  the  congregation  from  1861  to  1865. 

The  present  church  membership  is  about  four  hundred;  that  of  the  Sabbath- 
School,  two  hundred. 

Summary — Total  membership  of  the  Methodist  Denomination  in  Indianapolis, 
three  thousand  two  hundred  and  nineteen ;  total  Sabbath-School  membership,  two 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  six;  total  value  of  church  property,  $391,500. 

ROMAN     CATHOLIC. 

OUTLINE    OF     ROMAN    CATHOLIC    CHURCH    HISTORY    IN    INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  year  1836  may  be  given  as  the  date  of  the  initiatory  steps  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  first  Roman  Catholic  society  in  this  city.  Prior  to  that  date  several 
Catholic  families  had  settled  in  this  city  and  in  its  vicinity,  who  were  visited  once 
or  twice  a  year  by  priests  from  a  distance.  The  earliest  of  these  visitors  was 
the  Rev.  Father  Francois,  who  was  living  and  laboring  among  the  Indians  near 
Logansport,  Indiana.  Another  pioneer  minister  of  the  church  was  the  Rev.  Theo- 
dore Badin,  the  first  priest  ordained  in  the  United  States,  who  held  religious  servi- 
ces a  few  times  in  Indianapolis  and  Sbelbyville,  Indiana.  There  being  no  house 
of  worship  dedicated  to  the  Roman  Catholic  faith  anywhere  in  this  section,  the 
visiting  clergymen  were  content  to  say  mass  at  the  residences  of  Joseph  Laux, 
Michael  Shea,  John  O'Connor,  and  of  other  of  the  early  Catholic  settlers. 

Some  time  during  the  year  .1837,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Simon  Gabriel  Brute,  appointed 
the  first  Bishop  of  Vincennes  in  1834,  assigned  the  Rev.  Vincent  Bacquelin  to  the 
charge  of  the  Catholic  settlement  near  Shelbyville,  Indiana.  The  latter  laid  the 
foundation  of  St.  Vincent's  Church,  which  was  soon  after  completed.  Once  or 
twice  each  month  he  visited  the  infant  Catholic  society  here ;  who,  for  want  of  a 
church  building  of  their  own,  now  rented  a  small  room  which  they  used  for  church 
purposes  for  nearly  three  years. 

In  184C  a  lot  was  purchased  beyond  the  canal,  opposite  to  the  old  "Carlisle 
House,  '  on  which  a  small  frame  church  called  The  Holy  Cross  Church  was  erected. 
This  building  is  still  standing,  but  is  now  used  for  trade  purposes.  The  pastor, 
Father  Bacquelin,  a  zealous  and  earnest  evangelist,  continued  to  attend  alternately 
St.  Vincent's,  Shelby  county,  and  the  Holy  Cross,  Indianapolis,  until  August, 
1846,  in  which  year  he  was  accidentally  killed,  and  was  buried  at  St.  Vincent's. 
For  several  months  after  his  death,  the  church  was  served  by  Rev  John  McDer- 
mott;  who  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Patrick  J.  R.  Murphy,  who,  in  March,  1848,  was 
located  elsewhere;  and  the  charge  was  then  given  to  Rev.  John  Gueguen.  At  the 
time  of  the  accession  of  the  last  named  minister  to  the  pastorate,  the  congregation 
had  outgrown  the  capacity  of  their  church,  and  steps  were  taken  for  the  erection  of 
a  suitable  edifice.  Accordingly  work  was  commenced  on  the  present  St.  John's 
Church,  which  was  completed  in  1850.  Father  Gueguen  officiated  here  until  the 
year  1853,  and  was  succeded  by  Rev.  Daniel  Maloney,  who,  in  1857.  enlarged  the 
church  building. 

In  the  same  year  the  Roman  Catholic  Germans,  whose  minister  was  Rev.  L. 
Brandt  of  Madison,  commenced  building  the  present  St.  Mary's  Church,  on  Mary- 
land street,  near  Delaware.  The  enlargement  of  St.  John's  church  had  scarcely 


240  BOLLOWA  T'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

been  completed  when  Father  Maloney  was  removed,  and  Rev.  Aug.  Bessonies 
appointed  pastor.  The  appointment  was  made  in  October,  1857,  and  on  the  5th 
November  following  Kev.  Mr.  Bessonies  began  the  pastoral  labors  which  he  has 
ever  si  ace  performed  with  unremitting  zeal,  and  in  a  most  exemplary  Christian 
spirit. 

In  January,  1858,  the  German  Roman  Catholic  congregation  were  assigned  a 
settled  pastor,  in  the  person  of  Rev.  J.  Seigris%  who  officiated  a  short  time  in  St. 
John's,  until,  by  extraordinary  effort,  the  erection  of  the  German  church  was  so 
far  advanced  as  to  permit  its  use  for  Divine  service  on  August  15th  of  that  year. 
In  1858  the  members  of  St.  John's  congregation  began  building  a  Young  Ladies' 
Academy  on  the  corner  of  Georgia  and  Tennessee  streets,  which  was  completed 
and  opened  by  the  Sisters  of  Providence  in  1859,  and  was  enlarged  in  1861.  Dur- 
ing the  four  years  succeeding  1859,  several  purchases  of  real  estate  were  made,  and 
a  number  of  buildings  for  church  uses  erected ;  among  which  may  be  specified  the 
Catholic  Cemetery,  in  1862,  and  St.  John's  Pastoral  Residence,  in  1863.  In  1862 
Rev.  J.  M.  Villars  was  appointed  assistant  pastor  of  St.  John's,  and  was  succeeded 
by  R.  F.  Gouesse. 

In  18651  St.  Peter's  Church,  at  the  end  of  Virginia  avenue,  was  built  by  the 
Rev.  Aug.  Bessonies,  and  was  opened  for  Divine  service  on  the  29th  of  June, 
(Feast  of  St.  Peter).  Rev.  Joseph  Petit  was  the  first  pastor.  In  1865  the  large 
school  building  for  boys  adjoining  St.  John's  Pastoral  residence,  was  begun.  It 
was  completed  in  1866;  and  in  1867  the  Brothers  of  the  Sacred  Heart  took  charge 
of  it  and  began  their  educational  labors.  At  the  same  time  the  German  Catholics 
built  school  houses  for  boys  and  girls,  and  in  1866  the  Sisters  of  St.  Francis,  from 
Oldenberg,  opened  their  academy. 

The  house  of  worship  of  St.  John's  Church,  notwithstanding  the  formation  of 
the  two  new  parishes — St.  Mary's  and  St.  Peter's — was  now  too  small;  and  the 
erection  of  a  splendid  cathedral,  fronting  on  Tennessee  street,  between  Maryland 
and  Georgia  streets,  was  commenced  in  1867.  The  foundation,  which  cost  over 
$7,000,  having  been  finished,  on  July  21,  1862,  the  corner  stone  was  laid  by  the  Rt. 
Rev.  Maurice  de  St.  Palais,  Bishop  of  Vincennes,  in  the  presence  of  the  Governor 
and  officers  of  State,  the  members  of  the  City  Council,  and  an  immense  concourse 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  and  neighborhood,  such  as  was  never  before  gathered 
together  in  the  city  on  any  similar  occasion. 

The  general  style  of  the  cathedral  is  the  French  Gothic  of  the  thirteenth  cen- 
tury, and  the  front  will  be  very  imposing  and  elegant.  The  extreme  dimensions 
of  the  building  are  seventy-five  by  two  hundred  two  and  a-half  feet.  The  center 
nave  is  fifty  feet  wide  and  fifty-three  feet  high  at  the  highest  point.  The  transept 
is  to  be  fifty  by  sixty-seven  feet.  The  three  principal  entrances  are  on  the  west, 
the  center  one  being  double.  Also  north  and  south  side  entrances. 

The  sanctuary  is  forty  by  thirty  and  a-half  feet,  with  the  vestry  rooms  on 
either  side.  There  will  be  a  chapel  for  the  baptismal  font  on  the  north  side  of  the 
church,  near  the  entrance;  and  four  smaller  chapels  on  each  side  of  the  nave,  for 
side  altars  and  confessionals.  The  pulpit  will  be  at  the  south-west  corner  pillar 
of  the  transept. 

The  elevation  comprises  two  towers  surmounted  by  spires,  similar  in  general 
outline  and  finish,  and  two  hundred  feet  high.  The  three  front  portals  are  trim- 
med with  cut  stone.  One  leads  through  each  tower.  The  central  portal  is  thirty- 
two  feet  in  height  and  eighteen  feet  in  width.  The  others  are  sixteen  feet  in 
height  and  eight  in  width. 


RELIGIOVB. 

Above  the  chancel,  there  is  a  large  rose  window,  eighteen  feet  in  diameter,  filled 
with  cut  stone  tracery.  The  glass  will  be  stained  and  filled  with  emblematic  fig- 
ures. 

There  will  be  a  gallery  for  an  organ  and  choir,  thirty  feet  in  width,  and  ex- 
tending across  the  front  of  the  church;  but  no  other  gallery. 

The  foundation  of  stone  is  very  heavy;  and  the  window  and  doorways  will  be 
set  in  cut  stone.  Two  large  furnace  and  coal  cellars  underneath  are  arched,  and 
heating  pipes  will  be  enclosed  with  iron  cylinders,  so  that  the  building  will  be  fire 
proof. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone,  the  sermon  was  preached  by 
the  Jesuit  Father  Smarius. 

The  Rev.  Father  P.  R.  Fitzpatrick,  who  succeeded  Father  Gouesse,  in  1866, 
was  appointed  to  make  the  requisite  collections  for  continuing  the  work  of  erect- 
ing the  edifice,  and  Rev.  D.  McMullen  was  sent  here  to  assist  in  the  parochial  du- 
ties and  to  attend  to  adjoining  missions.  In  1868,  the  pastor,  Rev.  Aug.  Bessonies, 
took  charge  of  the  building,  and,  with  Father  Fitzpatrick,  collected  funds  to  carry 
on  the  work.  In  June,  1869,  the  latter  was  assigned  to  St.  Peters  Church  to  take 
the  place  of  Rev.  Father  Petit,  who  visited  Europe  In  October,  1869,  Father 
Brassart  was  sent  to  assist  at  St.  John's,  until  January  1st,  1870,  when  Rev.  Father 
Petit  returned  and  was  located  at  St.  John's  until  the  Bishop's  return  from  Rome. 
St.  John's  new  church,  better  known  as  the  Cathedral,  in  expectation  that  the 
Bishop  of  Vincennes,  will  remove  to  this  city,  or  that  a  new  See  will  be  created 
at  Indianapolis,  is  now  completed  as  to  the  exterior;  and  work  on  the  interior  is 
steadily  progressing.  The  interior  finish  and  appointments  will  be  in  keeping 
with  the  artistic  elegance  of  the  general  design.  The  cost  of  the  completed  edifice 
•will  be  about  $120,000. 

In  1870,  Father  P.  R.  Fitzpatrick,  then  pastor  of  St.  Peter's  church,  finding 
that  building  to  small  to  accommodate  his  fast  increasing  congregation,  laid  the 
corner  stone  of  a  new  church  building,  called  St.  Patrick's.  It  is  a  fine  brick 
structure,  and  will  be  completed  sometime  in  August,  1871,  when  the  old  church 
will  be  used  for  a  school  house  by  the  Brothers  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  boys  of  the  congregation. 

St.  John's  Home  for  Invalids,  whose  character  and  purposes  are  sufficiently 
indicated  by  its  name — is  located  on  Maryland  street,  between  Illinois  and  Ten- 
nessee, and  is  under  the  charge  and  administration  of  the  Sisters  of  Providence. 
In  place  of  this  institution,  the  erection  of  a  hospital  on  East  street  is  proposed 
— for  which  purpose  an  appropriate  site  has  been  secured. 

House  of  Refuge. — The  erection  of  a  building  for  this  purpose  is  proposed ; 
and  to  this  end  suitable  property  has  been  donated  to  the  Sisters  of  the  Good 
Shepherd,  by  the  city  of  Indianapolis,  and  by  S.  A.  Fletcher,  Esq. 

The  Catholic  population  of  the  city,  including  children,  is  estimated  at  ten 
thousand,  distributed  among  the  parishes  as  follows : 

St.  John's,  five  thousand ;  St.  Mary's  three  thousand ;  St.  Peter's  two  thousand. 

The  pastors  now  in  charge  are:  St.  John's, — Rev.  Aug  B.essonies,  and  Rev. 
Joseph  Petit;  St.  Peter's, — Rev.  P.  R.  Fitzpatrick;  St.  Mary's, — Rev.  S.  Siegrist. 

Summary. — Total  number  of  communicants  of  the  Catholic  Denomination  in 
Indianapolis,  about  four  thousand;  total  Sabbath-School  membership,  about  one 
thousand;  total  value  of  church  property,  $300,000. 
(16) 


242  HOLL OWATB  INDIA NAPOLIS. 


H  E  B  RE  W. 

The  Hebrew  population  of  Indianapolis  numbers  about  five  hundred.  The 
Judaic  faith  has  one  church  society  in  this  city;  whose  house  of  worship  is  lo- 
cated on  the  south  side  of  Market  street,  between  New  Jersey  and  East  streets. 
Prior  to  1833,  the  families  of  Moses  Woolf  and  Alexander  Franco,  constituted  the 
entire  Hebrew  population  of  this  city.  With  these  for  a  nucleus,  the  number  slowly 
increased;  and  in  the  winter  of  1855,  a  congregation  was  organized,  who  purchased 

•three  and  a-half  acres  near  the  city  and  dedicated  it  to  the  uses  of  a  cemetery. 
The  constitution  and  by  laws  of  the  society  give  the  following  list  of  officers  and 

'members  at  the  date  of  organization  : 

Mr.  Moses  Woolf,  President;  Dr.  J.  M.  Rosenthal,  Vice  President;  Mr.  Max 
Glaser,  Treasurer;  Mr.  Ad.  Dessar,  Secretary;  Mr.  Ad.  Rosenthal,  Mr.  Max  Dern- 

?ham,  Mr.  Mr.  Julius  Glaser,  Trustees  ;  Mr.  Peter  Harmon,  Mr.  Josesph  B.  Dessar, 
Mr.  Selig  Weil,  Mr.  Jacob  Maas,  Mr.  S.  Sloman,  Mr.  H.  Bamberger,  Mr.  Simon 
Wolff,  Mr.  J.  M-  Altman,  Mr.  H.  A.  Jessel,  Mr.  F.  Ullman,  Dr.  N.  Knepfler,  Mri 
Fred.  Knefler,  Mr.  Henry  Kittner,  Mr.  Moses  Heller,  (Knightstown,)  Mr.  H.  Ro- 
senthal, (Kokomo.) 

Of  these  Mr.  Woolf  and  four  others  are  the  only  members  still  connected  with 

'the  society.     No  minister  was  engaged   until  the  autumn  of  1856;  when  a  small 

'room  in  Blake's  Row  was  rented  and  fitted  up  for  religious  services,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Berman  was  engaged  as  pastor  during  the  holidays. 

The  congregation  increased  very  rapidly  during  the  next  few  years,  and  in 

"1858  was  able  to  provide  a  more  suitable  place  of  worship,  a  hall  in  Judah's  Block, 
which  was  dedicated  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wise,  of  Cincinnati.  During  the  same  year 
the  energetic  congregation  engaged  the  Rev.  J.  Wechsler,  a  minister  of  eminent 
zeal  and  ability,  as  pastor;  who  served  until  1861. 

During  the  latter  year  the  society  was  without  a  pastor  and  was  on  the  brink 

•  of  dissolution— -the  membership  at  one  time  having  been  reduced  to  thirteen.     In 
1862,  the  society  rallied,  and  made  a  forward  movement  by  the  election  of  Rev.  M. 
Moses  as  pastor.     Meanwhile,  several  innovations  were  made  in  the  old-time  cere- 

•  monies  and  tenets  of  the  Jewish  faith,  and  the  worship  was  not  a  little  modified 
and  altered,  in  accordance  with  the  spiritual  progress  of  the  age.     Thus  a  life-giv- 
ing spirit  and  harmonious  zeal  were  infused  into  the  society.     Among  the  changes 
made  at  this  time  was  the  organization  and  employment  of  a  choir.      Henceforth 

•the  society  had  a  more  rapid  growth. 

Mr.  Moses  retired  from  the  pastorate  in  1863,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Kalish,  a  learned  divine  who  rendered  general  satisfaction.  The  membership 
had  now  increased  to  over  fifty,  and  the  society  began  to  seriously  consider  the  ne- 

•  cessity  of  obtaining  suitable  church  property  of  their  own.     To  secure  the  success  of 
this  enterprise,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wechsler,  who  was  a  second  time    chosen,  persist- 
ently labored.     To  impress  its  importance  upon  his  congregation  he  made  nearly 
every  sermon  an  occasion;  and,  finally,  in  1864,  subscriptions  were  started.     Du- 
ring the  same  winter  a  sufficient  sum  was  subscribed  to  authorize  the  purchase  of  a 
site  on  East  Market  street,  and  on  the  7th  day  of  December,  1865,  the  corner  stone  of 
the  present  temple  was  laid,  with  the  impressive  ceremonies  of  the  Jewish  Church, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Lilienthal,  of  Cincinnati,  delivering  the  oration.     But  before  the  build- 

:ing  had  been  completed  the  subscriptions  were  exhausted,  and  work  was  suspended 
for  over  a  year.  The  society  was  again  in  the  midst  of  a  crisis,  from  which  the 


KXMIGIOVS.  243 

prospects  of  escape  were  anything  but  encouraging;  and  it  was  abundantly  pre- 
dicted and  readily  bslieved,  that  the  property  would  have  to  be  sold  to  pay  the  in- 
cumbrances  upon  it. 

From  this  dilemma  the  liberality  of  a  few  members  rescued  the  imperiled  en- 
terprise. These  weat  into  the  money  market  and  raised  the  requisite  means  for 
completing  the  buildiog. 

The  temple,  erected  and  furnished  at  a  cost  of  $22,000,  was  dedicated  on 
the  30th  of  October,  1868.  The  dedicatory  exercises  were  of  an  imposing  charac- 
ter: embracing  a  large  procession,  an  address  by  H.  Bamberger,  -Esq.,  the  President 
of  the  congregation ;  a  dedicatory  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wise,  and  a  banquet  at 
night. 

In  the  autumn  of  1867,  Mr.  Wechsler  was  succeeded  by  'the  Rev.  Morris 
Messing,  the  present  pastor. 

The  congregation  has  certainly  shown  great  perseverance  in  the  face  of  for- 
midable discouragements;  and  may  be  pardoned  for  no  small  degree  of  pride,  in 
the  building  of  so  handsome  a  house  of  worship  by  a  membership  so  small. 

The  society  now  has  fifty-eight  members,  and  sustains  a  Saturday  and  Sunday- 
School  of  fifty-four  pupils.  « 

The  temple  is  in  the  Renaissance  style  ef  architecture,  and  is  a  tasteful  structure 
in  its  exterior  aspects  and  interior  finish  and  appointments.  It  is  built  of  brick, 
with  an  elegant  stone  front.  Its  dimensions  are  forty  by  eighty  feet ;  and  the 
auditorium  has  seating  capacity  for  about  four  hundred  persons. 

The  value  ®f  the  building  and  site  is  about  $27,000. 

LUTHERAN, 

FIRST  ENGLISH    LUTHERAN  CHURCK. 

Location :     Corner  of  Alabama  and  New  York  streets. 

This  association  was  organised  in  January,  1837,  by  the  Kev.  Abraham  Reck; 
and  was  at  that  time  composed  of  twenty  members,  among  whom  were  the  heads 
*of  the  Brown,  Haugh,  Ohr,  and  other  families, — well-known  names  in  the  city. 

Of  the  primary  organization  but  seven  members  are  now  living;  and  these 
are  still  connected  with  the  church. 

The  founder,  and  first  pastor,  died  in  1869,  in  Lancaster,  Ohio. 

The  first  church  building, — a  one-story  brick — was  erected  in  1838,  on  the 
south-east  corner  of  Meridian  and  Ohio  streets. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Reck  resigned  the  charge  in  1840,  and  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  A.  A.  Timper,  (now  of  Illinois,)  who  served  until  1843.  He  was  shortly  af- 
terward succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Jacob  Shearer,  (since  deceased,)  who  was  the  pas. 
tor  until  1845.  From  1845  to  1850,  the  Rev.  A.  H.  Myers,  (now  of  Ashland,  Ohio,) 
was  pastor  of  the  congregation.  Hie  successor  was  the  Rev.  E.  R.  Guiney,  whose 
labors  were  closed  by  his  death,  in  1853,  and  whose  remains  lie  in  Crown  Hill 
••Cemetery.  The  next  pastor  was  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Kunkleman,  (now  of  Philadelphia,) 
whose  ministry  covered  a  period  of  over  eight  years;  during  which  period  the  pres- 
ent church  edifice  was  built,  (completed  and  dedicated  in  1861.)  After  the  retire- 
ment of  Mr.  Kunkleman,  in  1866,  the  congregation  was  served  successively  by  the 
Rev.  J.  H.  W.  Stuckenberg,  (now  of  Pittsburgh,)  for  about  eighteen  months;  and 
Prof.  H.  L.  Baugher,  (of  Gettysburg,  Penn.,)  for  nearly  a  year.  The  present  .pas- 
tor, the  Rev.  W.  W.  Criley,  accepted  the  charge  in  1869. 


244  BOltOW&fS   ISDJANAPOilS. 

The  society  now  numbers  over  two  hundred  members;  the  Sabbath-Senooi; 
one  hundred  and  fifty. 

The  church  edifice  is  a  neat  brick  building,  having  capacity  for  about  three 
hundred  persons.  Connected  with  tke  church  is  a  parsonage. 

The  value  of  the  church  property  is  about  $18,000,  and  the  society  is  entirely 
out  of  debt. 


ST.   PAtTL'S   GEBMAN   EVANGELICAL 

location  :     Corner  of  East  and  Georgia  streets. 

This  association  was  organized  on  the  5th  June,  1844,  at  a  meeting  held  in 
the  old  seminary  building.  Pursuant  to  the  action  of  that  meeting,  a  site  was  pur-- 
chased on  Alabama  street,  between  Washington  and  Louisiana  streets;  on  which 
a  brick  church  edifice  was  built,  and  dedicated  on  the  llth  day  of  May,  1845.  The 
first  pastor  was  the  Eev.  Theodore  3.  G.  Kuntz;  who  was  succeeded  in  1851  by 
the  Rev.  Charles  Frinke.  Under  the  energetic  and  wise  administration  of  the  lat- 
ter pastor,  the  congregation  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  the  capacity  of  their 
ehurch-building  became  insufficient,  necessitating  the  erection  of  another  and 
larger  edifice. 

For  this  purpose  the  requisite  site  was  secured  at  the  corner  of  East  and  Geor- 
gia streets ;  where  a  house  of  worship,  fifty  by  one  hundred  and  seventeen  feet  was 
erected,  and  was  dedicated  November  3d,  1860,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wyneken,  Pres- 
ident of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod. 

The  completion  of  this  commodious  structure  was  a  sotrree  of  appropriate 
pride  and  satisfaction  to  the  congregation  that  had  labored  so  assiduously  and  har-" 
moniously  to  that  end ;  and  whose  success,  considering  the  difficulties  to  be  over" 
come,  had  been  as  conspicuous  as  it  had  been  speedily  attained. 

On  the  same  site,  immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  church  edifice,  two  buildings 
for  school  purposes  were  also  erected  by  the  congregation ;  who,  since  their  first 
organization,  have  sustained  a  parochial  school,  which  is  now  conducted  by  three 
teachers:  Messrs.  Contselmann,  A.  Krome,  and  William  Brueggemann. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Frinke,  having  accepted  a  call  from  Baltimore,  Md.,  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  Chr.  Hochstetter,  called  from  Pittsburgh, 
and  installed  in  his  present  pastoral  relation  on  the  24th  of  April,  1868. 

Under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Mr.  Hochstetter  the  church  has  had  great  pros- 
perity ;  and  the  number  of  members,  as  well  as  of  pupils  in  the  parochial  school, 
has  largely  increased. 

In  1869,  a  site  fora  parsonage  was  purchased  on  the  corner  of  East  and  Ohio 
streets,  and  a  neat  residence  was  erected  upon  it. 

In  1870,  ten  acres  of  ground  were  purchased  in  the  south-eastern  suburb  of 
the  city,  and  dedicated  to  the  purposes  of  a  cemetery  for  the  Lutheran  population 
of  Indianapolis. 

The  number  of  voting  members  of  this  church  is  two  hundred  and  ten. 

A  capable  choir  and  a  large  organ  furnish  a  good  quality  of  music  at  the  re- 
ligious services  of  this  society. 

The  present  number  of  pupils  in  the  parochial  school  is  two  hundred  and 
sixty. 

The  governing  authorities  of  the  church  for  the  current  year,  are  as  follow  r 

Rev.  Chr.  Hochstetter,  Pastor;  Frederick  Ostermieer,  William  Cook,  and  Charles 


SEL1GWUS.  245 

Grange,  Trustees;    Louis  Meier,  and  William  Roeber,  Elders;  Ernest  Roeber,  and 
>Charles  Stiegman,  Presbyters. 

The  value  of  the  property  is  about  $50,000. 

ZION'S   CHURCH. 

Location:     Olio  street,  between  Meridian  and  Illinois. 

This  society  was  founded  in  1840.  The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  J.  <r.  Kuoz ; 
•who  served  the  church  until  1842.  The  church  had  no  regular  pastor  until  1844, 
•when  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Isensee  was  called  to  the  charge. 

The  first  hous«  of  worship,  located  on  the  site  of  the  present  church  building, 
was  .dedicated  on  the  18th  of  May,  1845.  The  society  now  took  the  name  of  the 
•German  Evangelical  Zion's  Church — the  first  'German  Protestant  church  organi- 
zation in  Indianapolis. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Isensee  retired  from  the  pastorate  in  1850;  since  which  time  the 
church  has  been  served  by  the  following  pastore : 

The  Rev.  A.  Rahn,  1850-51;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Riley,  1851-52;  the  Rev.  C.  E. 
Zobel,  1853-54;  the  Rev.  A.  E.  Kuester,  1854-59.  The  Rev.  H.  Quinius,  the 
present  pastor,  has  served  the  congregation  since  1859. 

.     In  1860,  the  society  built  a  two  story  brick  building,  for  parochial  school  pur- 
poses. 

In  1866,  was  begun  the  erection  of  their  present  house  of  worship.  The  cor- 
ner-stone was  laid  on  the  1st  of  July,  of  the  same  year ;  and  the  building  was  ded- 
icated on  the  5th  of  February,  1867.  The  church  now  has  four  hundred  commu- 
nicants ;  the  Sabbath-School  two  hundred  pupile,  and  the  parochial  school  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty. 

The  church  property  is  valued  at  $30,000. 

Summary — Total  membership  of  the  Lutheran  Denomination,  in  Indianapolis, 
sight  hundred  and  ten;  total  Sabbath-School  membership,  three  hundred  and  fifty; 
•iotal  value  of  property,  $98,000. 

GERMAN    EVANGELICAL    ASSOCIATION. 

J3ALKM  -CHURCH. 

'Location :     N«w  Jersey  street  between  Market  and  Ohio. 

This  society  was  organized  on  the  19th  day  of  June,  1855,  with  twenty-o»e 
members,  tinder  the  name  of  "Iramanuel  Church  ef  the  Evangelical  Association  of 
Indianapolis." 

The  first  Trustees  of  the  organization  were,  M.  ~W.  Steffey,  Samuel  Dickover, 
and  George  Klepfer. 

The  society  has  had  to  contend  against  great  financial  embarrassments,  but 
the  liberality  and  energy  of  the  members  have  been  superior  to  all  emergencies. 

The  present  house  of  worship,  located  as  above  stated,  is  a  plain,  substantial 
brick  building,  in  size  thirty-six  by  sixty  feet,  of  the  value  (with  site)  of  about 
§9,000.  The  auditorium  has  seating  capacity  for  about  three  hundred  persons- 
The  society  has  been  served  by  the  following  pastors  : 

The  Revs.  M.  W.  Steffey,  Henry  Kramer,  Matthew  Hoehn,  Michael  Krueger, 
.A.  B.  Shaefer,  G.  G.  Platz,  J.  M.  Gomer,  John  Puchs,  F.  Wiethaup,  I.  Haufmaa,. 
and  Conrad  Trainer,  the  present  jpasloc. 


HOLLOWAf'8  INDIAN  APOL1& 

On  the  23d  of  August,  1870,  the  name  of  the  society  was  changed  to  Salem. 
Church. 

The  organization  is  in  a  prosperous  condition :  numbering  one  hundred  and-, 
eighteen  members ;  the  greater  poriion  of  whom  are  of  mature  age  and  heads  of 
families. 

The  Sabbath-School  is  likewise  in  a  flourishing  state,  and  has  about  one  hum. 
dred  and  fifty  members.. 

UNIYERSALIST, 

fflRST   UN1VEK6ALIST   CONGREGATION. 

The  organization  of  the  first  TJniversalist  Church  Society  in  thia  eity,  was  a& 
early  as  1844.  The  society,  owhjg  to  the  limited  number  of  adherents  to  the  Uni- 
versal faith  living  here  at  that  time,  had  but  a  feeble  and  brief  existence. 

In  1853  a  church  was  organized  under  the  name  of  the  "First  Universalist 
Church  of  Indianapolis."  Of  'this  society,  the  Rev.  B.  F.  Foster,  was  the  first  pas- 
tor, continuing  in  that  relation  until  1860.  His  successor,  for  something  over  one 
year,  was  the  Rev.  W.  C.  Brooks,  who  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  B.  F.  Foster,  who 
was  followed,  in  1.866,  by  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Austin,  of  New  York.  Mr.  Austin  re- 
mained about  six  months,  at  the  expiration  of  which  period,  Mr.  Foster,  being  at 
that  time  State  Librarian,  and  a  resident  of  Indianapolis,  took  temporal  charge  of 
the  church,  continuing  in  that  relation  until  the  dose  of  his  term  as  State  Librarian, 
in  1869.  Since  then  the. church  has  been  without  any  settled  pastor,  though  occa- 
sional services  have  been  held. 

An  effort  is  being  matured  for  the  re-establishment  of  the  church  on  a  perma- 
nent basis. 

The  society  has  never  had  a  house  of  worship  of  its  own,  and  its  services- 
have  been  held  in  the  following  places :  In  the  old  Seminary  building  Con  the  site 
of  the  present  University  Park,)  in  the  Court  House,  in  Temperance  Hall,  in  Ma- 
sonic Hall,  in  College  Hall,  and  in  the  Hall  of  Wallace's  block. 

SECOND   TJNIVERSALIST  CONGREGATION. 

The  organization  of  this  society  grew  out  of  a  schism  in  the  First  Universal- 
ist church,  in  the  year  1860 ;  not  on  account  of  doctrinal  differences,  but  of  indi- 
vidual differences. 

About  $3,500  was  obtained  by  subscriptions ;  of  which  sum  $1,000  was  sub- 
scribed by  John  Thomas,  Esq.,  the  leader  of  the  movement.  A  site  was  secured, 
and  a  house  of  worship  erected,  on  the  corner  of  Michigan  and  Tennessee  streets. 

By  the  foreclosure  of  a  mortgage  on  the  property,  and  by  discharging  an  in- 
debtedness of  nearly  $5,000,  Mr.  Thomas  afterward  became  the  exclusive  owner 
thereof. 

"With  the  exception  of  the  first  twelve  months  after  the  dedication — during, 
which  time  the  Revs.  G.  E.  "Woodbury  and  W.  W.  Curry  officiated  as  pastors — 
the  building  has  not  been  used  for  religious  purposes  by  the  Universalist  denomi- 
nation. It  was  occupied  for  some  time  by  "Wesley  Chapel  (Methodist  Episcopal) 
congregation,  pending  the  completion  of  their  new  building,  and  afterwards  by 
one  wing  of  the  Strange  Chapel  (Methodist  Episcopal)  congregation,  called  the 
Congregational  Methodist  Church,  with  the  Rev.  J.  "W.  T.  McMullen  as  pastor.. 


RELIGIOUS.  247 

The  latter  organization  has  also  disbanded ;  and  the  premises  are  now  unoccupied 
for  religious  uses. 

UNITED    BKETHREN    IN    CHRIST. 

This  denomination  is  represented  in  this  city  by  but  one  church;  whose  house 
of  worship  is  located  on  the  south-east  corner  of  Ohio  and  New  Jersey  streets. 

This  society  was  organized  in  1850;  and  the  present  church  building  was 
erected  in  the  year  following.  Until  a  few  years  since  the  organization  had  a  steady 
growth  in  prosperity.  During  the  late  war  the  membership  had  increased  to  three 
hundred  and  fifty-three ;  but  the  withdrawal  by  letter,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  of  a 
number  of  the  soldiers  who  had  attached  themselves  to  this  church  while  in  camp 
here,  reduced  the  membership  to  about  two  hundred. 

In  the  autumn  of  1869  a  schism  occurred  in  this  society,  resulting  in  a  new 
organization  under  the  name  of  the  Liberal  United  Brethren,  and  embracing  a 
majority  of  the  original  body.  The  Liberals  held  possession  of  the  church  prop- 
erty, closing  its  doors  against  the  othe,r  body. 

A  resort  to  the  courts  resulted  in  placing  the  original  society  again  in  posses- 
sion of  the  property  on  the  31st  August,  1870. 

The  Liberals  disbanded  their  organization,  and  its  members  generally  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination. 

The  society  was  then  re-organized,  and  now  numbers  forty-two  active  members- 
The  Sabbath-School,  which  had  been  disbanded  by  reason  of  the  dissensions,  has 
also  been  re-organized,  and  now  reckons  about  eighty  members. 

The  church  building  has  capacity  for  about  four  hundred  persons ;  and  the 
property  is  valued  at  $5,000. 

The  society  has  been  served  by  the  following  pastors,  beginning  with  the  first 
in  the  order  stated:  Revs.  J.  D.  Vardaman,  two  years;  A.  Long,  one  year;  A. 
Davis,  one  year;  M.  Wright,  one  year;  D.  Stover,  one  year;  C.  W.  Witt,  four 
years  ;  P.  S.  Cook,  two  years;  William  Nichols,  one  year;  L.  S.  Chittenden,  one  year 
and  a  half;  J.  S.  Wall,  six  months;  Thomas  Evans,  two  years;  A.  Hanway,  on 
year;  B.  F.  Morgan,  oae  year;  and  W.  J.  Pruner,  the  present  pastor. 


UNITARIAN. 

FIRST   UNITARIAN  SOCIETY   OF  INDIANAPOLIS, 

On  the  13th  of  February,  1868,  pursuant  to  a  call  signed  by  George  K.  Perrin, 
J.  B.  Follett,  and  others,  a  small  company  met  in  this  city  to  consider  the  feasi- 
bility of  forming  a  Unitarian  Society.  The  late  Judge  David  McDonald  presided 
at  this  meeting.  It  was  decided  to  open  correspondence  with  various  Unitarian 
clergymen  with  a  view  to  securing  the  services  of  a  regular  pastor ;  and  Morrison's 
Opera  Hall  was  engaged  as  a  place  for  holding  the  services  of  the  society.  In 
this  hall  on  the  12th  of  April,  1868,  were  held  the  first  public  services  of  the  so- 
ciety, Dr.  G.  W.  Hosmer,  of  Antioch  College,  Ohio,  officiating.  Thereafter,  until 
the  following  summer  vacation,  services  were  held  regularly  at  this  hall;  after 
which  the  society  met  for  a  time  at  the  office  of  Judge  McDonald. 

On  the  14th  of  May,  1868,  the  society  was  formally  organized,  and  a  presi- 
dent, an  executive  committee  and  secretary  were  elected. 


248 


HOLLOWATTS  INDIANAPOLIS. 


In  October,  1868,  the  Rev.  Henry  Blanchard,  by  invitation  delivered  a  sermon 
before  the  society  in  the  Academy  of  Music;  and  a  call  was  at  .once  extended  to 
him  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  society.  He  accepted,  entered  upon  the  work  in 
January,  1869,  and  remained  for  about  two  years.  Mr.  Blanchard  was  the  only 
regular  pastor  the  society  has  had;  and  since  his  resignation  the  pulpit  has  been 
irregularly  filled  by  ministers  from  other  cities. 

The  following  is  the  Declaration  of  Belief  adopted  by  the  society: 

"  Reverently  recognizing  our  dependence  on  Almighty  God,  the  one  God  and 
Father  of  us  all,  who  is  above  all,  and  through  all,  and  in  us  all,  and  believing  in 
the  usefulness  of  public  worship;  accepting  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  who  taught  the 
Absolute  Religion  of  love  of  God  and  Man,  as  the  world's  greatest  Teacher  and 
Example,  and  desiring  to  imitate  his  life  and  study  his  words,  we,  the  undersigned, 
agree  to  unite  ourselves  in  a  religious  association  to  be  known  as  the  First  Unita- 
rian Society  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana." 

Mr.  Blanchard  was  a  popular  pulpit  orator  and  generally  attracted  large  con- 
grpgations.  The  largest  attendance  at  his  meetings  was  about  twelve  hundred ; 
the  average,  about  five  hundred.  The  greatest  number  of  enrolled  Sabbath-School 
pupils  was  about  one  hundred  and  twenty. 

KECAPITULATION. 

The  following  table  shows  the  Church  and  Sabbath-School  membership  of  each 
Denomination  in  this  city,  and  the  value  of  the  church  property  held  by  each 
Denomination,  according  to  reports  famished,  in  most  instances,  by  the  pastors  of 
the  several  churches: 


CHURCHES. 

Church  Member- 
ship. 

Sabbath-School 
Membership. 

Value  of 
Church  Property 

Protestant  Episcopal  . 

582 

743 

$16  800 

Presbyterian  

1,736 

*2,208 

320,117 

1,093 

tl,435 

£116,000 

3,219 

2,806 

§391,000 

Roman  Catholic.  

4,000 

1,000 

300,000 

Congregational  

235 

350 

43,000 

Christian  

900 

1,000 

53,000 

Lutheran  

810 

350 

98,000 

300 

450 

21,000 

German  Evangelical  Association- 
United  Brethren  

118 

42 

150 

80 

9,000 
5,000 

Universalistll  

Unitarian  

500 

100 

58 

54 

27,000 

246 

80 

12,000 

Total  

13,839 

10,806 

$1,529,117 

*  In  the  Summary  on  page  216,  the  number  2,008  should  be  2,208. 

t  In  the  Summary  on  page  220,  the  number  1,265  should  be  1,435. 

J  In  the  Summary  on  page  220,  the  amount  $76,000  should  be  882,000. 

g  Includes  the  estimated  cost,  when  completed,  of  buildings  in  process  of  erection. 

I  No  reports.    See  page  246.       'v 


RELIGIOUS. 


UNDENOMINATIONAL    RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES. 

YOUNG   MEN'S   CHRISTIAN   ASSOCIATION. 

The  Young  Meris  Christian  Association,  of  Indianapolis,  had  its  organized 
beginning  on  the  12th  December,  1854,  about  five  years  after  the  first  organization 
of  this  kind  was  founded,  in  London,  England.  The  history  of  its  work  of  benefi- 
cence and  charity — like  that  of  kindred  organizations  the  world  over — cannot  be 
written  to  advantage,  as  in  the  case  of  a  separate  religious  congregation,  worship- 
ing at  stated  periods  and  in  a  particular  edifice.  The  latter  is  a  conspicuous  object, 
and  its  work  is  done  in  w&ys  and  manners  so  regular  and  methodical  as  to  be  "seen 
of  men."  On  the  contrary,  the  real  extent  of  the  services  performed  by  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  of  Indianapolis  can  be  fully  appreciated  only  by  the 
workers  in  that  organization,  and  by  Omniscience. 

The  number  of  persons  who  have  been  the  recipients  of  its  benefactions  would 
amount  to  thousands.  Its  charities  and  ministrations  are  contracted  or  limited  by 
no  form  of  sectarianism.  To  serve  God  by  benefiting  man  is  its  only  faith — its 
comprehensive  creed.  While  it  has  regular  spheres  of  labor,  it  also  claims  the 
world  for  its  field,  and  to  the  best  of  its  means,  aids  the  destitute  and  ministers  to 
the  neglected,  wherever  found.  Subordinate  to  the  church  in  one  sense,  its  effect 
is  to  extend  the  influence  of  the  church  to  individuals,  and  into  the  waste  places. 
For  the  benefit  of  the  destitute  and  neglected  classes  the  Association  was  particu- 
larly intended. 

Chief  among  the  more  comprehensive  labors  of  the  Association  in  this  city, 
from  time  to  time,  have  been  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  mission  Sunday- 
Schools,  and  religious  services  in  destitute  parts  of  the  city — principally  conducted 
by  laymen. 

The  quarters  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association — until  recently,  loca- 
ted in  Vinton's  block,  opposite  the  Post  office — contain,  beside  the  offices,  a  reading 
and  library  room,  with  current  files  of  the  principal  religious  periodicals,  for  perusal 
by  citizens  and  strangers  whenever  they  choose.  The  rooms  are  open  every  night 
and  day  for  the  accommodation  of  strangers,  of  both  sexes,  who  may  be  inclined  to 
call;  and  for  the  large  number  of  applicants  for  assistance.  Not  the  only  recipi- 
ents of  its  charities  are  these  applicants.  The  destitute  and  sick  are  invited,  wher- 
ever they  may  be — all  possible  aid  given  them. 

Besides  the  prayer  meetings  held  at  the  rooms  every  morning,  there  are  some 
missions  and  other  places  of  worship  where  regular  religious  services  are  held  by 
the  Association.  During  the  summer  season  from  six  to  fifteen  open-air  meetings 
are  held  under  its  auspices  every  Sunday. 

The  amount  of  money  expended  in  these  charities,  in  the  first  year  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, was  $370.00;  and  for  the  year  just  closed,  $4,681.  The  latter  sum  by  no 
means  embraces  all  the  material  charities  of  the  Association.  To  this  should  be 
added  a  larger  amount,  in  the  shape  of  articles  of  clothing  distributed  by  the  Asso- 
ciation, and  donated  to  them  by  citizens.  Considering  that  its  resoureea  are  entirely 
made  up  of  voluntary  offerings,  it  is  seen  by  the  above  figures  that  the  work  and 
influence  of  the  Association  have  greatly  increased;  and  that  it  has  now  a  firm 
hold  in  the  consciences  and  upon  the  purses  of  the  people. 

The  following  are  names  of  its  Presidents  from  the  beginning :  E.  J.  Baldwin, 
to  March,  1856;  Miles  J.  Fletcher,  from  March,  1856,  to  March,  1857  ;  S.  T.  Bowen, 
from  March,  1857,  to  March,  1858;  J.  W.  Mclntire,  from  March,  1858,  to  March, 


250  HOLLO  WAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

1859;  Benjamin  Harrison,  from  March,  1859,  to  March,  1860;  Theophilus  Parvin, 
from  March,  1860,  to  March,  1862;  F.  A.  W.  Davis,  from  March,  1862,  to  July, 
1865;  W.  P.  Fishback,  from  July,  1865,  to  September,  1866;  J.  A.  Kunkleman, 
from  September  to  October,  1866;  W.  H.  Hay,  from  October,  1866,  to  September, 
1868;  W.  A.  Bell,  from  September,  1868  to  September,  1869;  John  W.  Kay,  from 
September,  1869,  to  September,  1870;  and  the  latter  was  succeeded  by  Wilson 
Morrow,  the  present  President. 

From  1862  to  1865,  by  reason  of  the  extraordinary  demands  of  the  war,  the 
Association  was  comparatively  neglected.  Beginning  with  Mr.  Fishback's  admin- 
istration— peace  having  returned — the  vigor  of  the  Association  renewed  itself;  and 
it  has  steadily  grown  in  efficiency  and  power  ever  since. 

The  principal  part  of  its  early  work  was  performed  by  volunteers,  until  early 
in  1868,  when  Rev.  Wm.  Armstrong  was  elected  to  the  post  of  City  Missionary  and 
Superintendent  of  the  work  of  the  Association.  In  this  capacity  he  zealously  served 
until  July,  1863,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  B.  Brandt,  the  present  incum- 
bent, an  industrious,  zealous  and  competent  gentleman  for  the  place. 

Lectures  are  occasionally  given  under  the  auspices  of  the  association,  by  the 
more  prominent  public  lecturers,  serving  the  double  purpose  of  giving  the  out- 
siders the  benefit  of  the  lectures,  and  the  association  the  assistance  of  its  portion  of 
the  net  profits  of  the  engagement. 

The  membership  of  the  association,  at  this  time,  numbers  about  three  hundred 
and  seventy-five. 

The  above  is,  necessarily,  the  merest  outline  of  the  history  of  the  association. 
As  stated  in  the  beginning  of  this  sketch,  the  magnitude  of  the  good  it  has  done 
cannot  be  known  by  any  one  person  in  this  world.  Yet  thousands  of  men  and 
women  can  testify  to  benefits  received  through  its  ministrations.  Hardly  a  church 
has  been  organized  here  since  the  existence  of  the  Association  but  is  more  or  less 
indebted  to  it.  It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  the  Association  is  in  a  more  prosper- 
ous condition  than  ever  before.  It  is  now  one  of  the  permanent  institutions  of  the 
city,  with  every  promise  of  continually  increasing  usefulness. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  1871,  the  Trustees  purchased,  for  the  occupancy  and  use 
of  the  Association,  the  building  on  the  west  side  of  North  Illinois  street,  between 
Washington  and  Illinois  streets,  known  as  the  Exchange  Theatre. 

The  purchase  price  was  $24,000;  which  sum  has  nearly  all  been  raised  or  sub- 
scribed. The  building  has  been  refitted  and  renovated,  and  the  Association  now 
has  accommodations  more  commensurate  with  its  needs. 

The  officers  for  the  current  year  are :  Wilson  Morrow,  President ;  Ed.  S.  Field, 
Vice  President;  Charles  C.  Dennis,  Recording  Secretary;  M.  R.  Barnard,  Corres- 
ponding Secretary;  Joseph  McDowell,  Treasurer;  Rev.  J.  B.  Brandt,  Superin- 
tendent. 

Board  of  Trustees — William  S.  Hubbard,  President;  E.  C.  Mayhew,  Treasurer  ; 
Wm.  C.  Smock,  Ingram  Fletcher,  Benj.  Harrison,  R.  Sedgwick,  John  H.  Ohr,  Theo. 
P.  Haughey. 

Executive  Committee — Joseph  McDowell,  Chairman ;  C.  C.  Dennis,  Secretary  ; 
Wilson  Morrow,  M.  R.  Barnard,  W.  H.  Hay,  E.  S.  Field,  Mrs.  Anna  Baggs,  Mrs. 
Delitha  B.  Harvey,  T.  H.  K.  Enos. 

STANDING  COMMITTEES. — On  Finance — D.  H.  Wiles,  R.  Sedgwick,  Wm.  C. 
Smock. 

Library  and  Rooms — J.  G.  Kingsbury,  D.  H.  Wiles,  E.  A.  Cobb. 
Lectures  and  Sermons — W.  A.  Bell,  M.  R.  Barnard,  Joseph  McDowell. 


251 

Meetings — K.  Frank  Kennedy,  C.  C.  Olin,  C.  P.  Wilson. 

Temperance— John  W.  Ray,  W.  H.  Hobbs,  Mrs.  Dr.  Siddall. 

Hotels  and  Boarding  Houses — E.  A.  Cobb,  Edward  Gilbert,  G.  W.  Alexander. 

Ladies'  Working  Committee— Mrs.  Anna  Wilson,  Mrs.  Martin  Byrkit,  Mrs.  L. 
L.  Jackson. 

Ladies'  Missionary  Committee — Mrs.  Mary  E.  Carey,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Newland, 
Mrs.  Dr.  James  Braden. 

Missionary — W.  S.  Wooten,  D.  W.  Coffin,  Joseph  Sutton. 

Statistics — John  B.  Brandt,  Joseph  R.  Perry. 

THE  WOMEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

This  auxiliary  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  was  organized  in 
October,  1870.  Its  principal  sphere  is  to  secure  homes  and  employment  for  home- 
less women,  and  to  visit  and  care  for  the  indigent  sick.  It  also  has  charge  of  a 
Sabbath-School  for  newsboys,  boot-blacks,  &c.  The  society  has  about  one  hundred 
members,  of  whom  about  thirty  are  on  the  active  list. 

YOUNG   MEN'S  CHRISTIAN   ASSOCIATION,    GERMAN. 

This  Association,  similar  ia  its  character  and  objects  to  the  Young  Men's- 
Christian  Association  of  Indianapolis,  was  organized  on  the  5th  of  January,  1870. 

An  organisation  of  this  character,  dependent  entirely  for  support  on  the  vol- 
untary aid  of  individuals,  cannot,  in  the  space  of  a  little  more  than  one  year,  be- 
come great  and  powerful ;  yet,  considering  its  age,  the  Association  has  made  good 
progress. 

The  present  membership  numbers  about  sixty. 

Each  member  pays  a  yearly  contribution  of  one  dollar  into  the  treasury ;  the 
payment  of  $20.00  secures  a  life  membership. 

The  regular  meetings  of  the  Association  are  keld  every  Tuesday  evening. 

It  is  proposed  to  open,  at  an  early  day,  suitable  rooms  for  the  purposes  of  a 
library,  reading  rooms,  and  offices. 

The  officers  of  the  Association  are:  President,  J.  J.  Wenner;  Vice  Presi- 
dents (one  from  each  of  the  German  churches),  Christian  Schmidt,  Second  German 
Reformed  Churc-h;  J.  J.  Wenner,  German  Methodist  Church;  Adam  Helm,  Zion's- 
Church ;  William  Braun,  First  German  Reformed  Church ;  Chas.  Aldag,  German- 
Evangelical  Church. 

INDIANAPOLIS   FEMALE   BIBLE  SOCIETY. 

This  association  is  an  auxiliary  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  and  was  organ- 
ized in  1839.  The  object  of  the  Society  is  shown  by  its  title,  and  is  known  by  ite 
works :  The  distribution  ef  the  Bible  to  the  destitute  who  cannot  afford  to  buy  it, 
and  in  public  places  where  its  reading  is  neglected.  The  jurisdiction  of  the  Society 
is  the  city  of  Indianapolis  and  Marion  county. 

The  funds  of  the  Society  are  derived  from  the  voluntary  donations  of  the  churches 
and  citizens  generally.  During  the  war  the  Society  gave  an  aggregate  of  fifty- 
one  thousand  four  hundred  and  ninety-one  Bibles  and  Testaments  to  soldiers  and 
prisoners  of  war  stationed  at  this  point.  The  total  number  gratuitously  distributed 
since  1853,  is  fifty-eight  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine. 


252  BOLLOWAF8  INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  affairs  of  the  Society 'are  directed  by  a  president,  a  vice  president,  treas- 
urer, secretary  and  board  of  managers.  The  present  officers  are : 

Presideat,  Mrs.  Jane  M.  Graydon ;  Vice  President,  Mrs.  John  Wilkins ;  Treas- 
erer,  Mrs.  C.  W.  Brouee ;  Secretary,  Julia  A.  Bassett, 

MEDICAL. 

INDIANA    MEDICAL  COLLEGE.* 

This  institution  is  located  on  Delaware  street,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Court 
House  square. 

A  description  of  the  institution  necessitates  a  brief  recital  of  the  instrument- 
alities that  led  to  its  establishment. 

Previous  to  1863,  the  only  organization  of  physicians,  in  this  city,  was  the 
Indianapolis  Medical  Association.  This  was  as  much  social  as  professional.  Its 
meetings  were  held  at  the  offices  or  residences  of  now  one  and  then  another  mem- 
ber; in  fact,  it  was  not  an  organization  in  the  true  sense  of  the  term,  nor  was 
it  highly  useful  to  the  cause  of  medical  science.  This  association  became  extinct 
in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  and  was  succeeded,  in  1863,  by  another  organization 
similar  in  name,  but  much  more  efficient  and  useful  in  point  of  fact.  In  1864, 
the  Marion  County  Association  was  formed.  These  two  organizations  were 
merged  into  the  Indianapolis  Academy  of  Medicine,  a  corporate  body  under  the 
laws  of  the  State,  founded  on  the  3d  of  October,  1865.  The  Academy  has  ever 
since  held  stated  meetings  once  each  week,  at  which  regular  exercises,  in  the  inte- 
rests of  medical  science,  have  been  held — such  as  an  essay  by  some  appointed  mem- 
ber, discussions  of  pathological,  physiological  and  thereapeutical  questions,  etc. 

The  benefits  of  the  organization  to  medical  science  and  to  the  members — who 
thus  interchange  views  and  obtain  the  advantages  of  the  peculiar  experiences  or 
observations  of  one  another — are  sufficiently  obvious,  without  further  explanation. 
The  Academy  was  the  parent  of  the  Indiana  Medical  College. 

This  institution  was  organized  in  May,  L869.  The  first  movement  looking  to 
its  establishment,  was  started  by  the  Academy  in  February  of  that  year.  The 
original  plan  was,  a  State  institution  as  a  department  of  the  Indiana  State  Univer- 
sity, and  thus  to  obtain  the  aid  of  the  State  in  behalf  of  the  enterprise.  The  com- 
mittee of  the  Academy  appointed  to  make  an  investigation  into  the  feasibility 
of  this  plan,  consisting  of  Drs.  George  W.  Mears,  John  S.  Bobbs  and  J.  H.  Wood- 
burn,  reported  unfavorably  on  the  project. 

The  report  was  concurred  in  by  the  Academy  and  a  resolution  adopted,  that  a 
committee  of  five  be  appointed  to  report  upon  the  propriety  of  an  effort,  on  the 
part  of  the  profession  in  Indianapolis,  for  the  establishment  here  of  a  medical  col- 
lege ;  and  also  to  report  a  plan  for  that  purpose. 

This  committee,  consisting  of  Drs.  Waterman,  Harvey,  Todd,  Kitchen  and 
Oaston,  reported  in  favor  of  the  enterprise,  and  submitting  a  plan  of  organization. 
The  plan  was  accepted,  and  subsequently  another  committee  was  appointed  to  se- 
lect a  faculty :  the  professors  so  selected  to  organize  themselves  into  a  college  of 
medicine,  to  be  known  as  "The  Indiana  Medical  College;"  to  devise  the  means 
for  its  maintenance;  secure  suitable  building  accommodations;  in  short,  to  manage 
the  business  concerns,  generally,  of  the  institution. 

The  first  Faculty  was  composed  as  follows : 

*  Of  the  establishment,  nature  and  brief  existence  of  the  "  Central  Medical  College,"  mentioa 
as  made  on  page  9L. 


MEDICAL. 

J.  S.  Bobbs,  M.  D.,  Pres't.,  Principles  and  Practice  of  Surgery;  Or.  W.  Mears, 
M.  D.,  Obstetrics;  R.  T.  Brown,  M.  D.,  Chemistry  and  Toxicology;  R.  N.  Todd, 
M.  D.,  Vice  President,  Principles  and  Practice  of  Medicine  ;-L.  D.  Waterman,  M.  D.7 
Descriptive  and  Surgical  Anatomy ;  T.  B.  Harvey,  M.  D.,  Treasurer,  Diseases  of 
Women  and  Children;  W.  B.  Fletcher,  M.  D.,  Physiology;  P.  S.  Newcomer,  M. 
D.,  Professor  of  Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics;  J.  A.  Comingor,  M.  D.,  Surgi- 
cal Pathology,  Orthopedic  and  Clinical  Surgery;  C.  E.  Wright,  M.  D.,  Demon- 
strator of  Anatomy. 

At  a  meeting  on  the  4th  of  May,  1&69,  Dr.  Bobbs  reported  articles-  of  associa- 
tion, which  were  approved  and  signed  by  the  other  members  of  the  Faculty ;  and, 
at  the  same  meeting,  Hons.  Samuel  E.  Perkins  and  John  D.  Rowland  were  elected 
members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  with  the  Faerulty. 

The  Academy  of  Medicine  subscribed  liberally  to  the  support  of  the  institu- 
tion, to  make  up  the  excess  of  expenses  over  the  inadequate  receipts  from  tuition, 
during  the  infancy  of  the  college;  and  a  number  of  the  members  bound  themselves 
to  pay  annual  subscriptions,  for  this  purpose,  for  five  years. 

In  this  way  the  Indianapolis  Medical  College  was  founded.  The  first  session 
was  opened  in  October,  1869. 

The  College  building  is  now  complete.  Its  lecture  rooms  are  adapted  to  the 
accommodation  of  over  two  hundred  students.  All  the  departments,  especially  those 
of  Anatomy  and  Chemistry,  ara  well  supplied  with  material  for  illustrations.  A 
laboratory  for  students  has  been  opened  under  the  charge  of  Prof.  Stevens,  where 
superior  facilities  are  provided  for  the  practical  teaching  of  Analyctic  Medical 
Chemistry. 

The  city  hospital  affords  ample  opportunities  for  the  study  of  clinical  medicine 
and  surgery.  Cases  were  presented  to,  and  operations  performed  before,  the  class 
during  the  past  winter,  representing  almost  the  entire  field  of  Medicine  and  Sur- 
gery. 

The  Chemical  department  is  now  furnished  with  a  full  line  of  apparatus,  which 
enables  the  teacher  of  this  branch  to  give  a  thorough  and  illustrative  course  in 
chemistry  and  toxicology. 

Candidates  for  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine,  must  have  attended  two  full 
courses  of  lectures — the  last  one  being  in  this  college ;  and  have  studied  three  years 
under  the  direction  of  a  regularly  educated  physician. 

The  present  Faculty  is  composed  of  the  following  gentlemen  : 

J.  A.  Comingor,  M.  D.,  President  and  Prof,  of  Principles  and  Practice  of  Sur- 
gery ;  G.  W.  Mears,  M.  D.,  Prof,  of  Obstetrics;  Thad.  M.  Stevens,  M.  D.,  Professor 
of  Chemistry  and  Toxicology;  K.  N.  Todd,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Principles  and  Practice 
of  Medicine;  L.  D.  "Waterman,  M.  D.,  Prof,  of  Anatomy  and  Clinical  Surgery; 
T.  B.  Harvey,  M.  D.,  Prof,  of  Diseases  of  Women  and  Children;  W.  B.  Fletcher, 
M.  D.,  Prof,  of  the  Institutes  of  Medicine ;  Dugan  Clarke,  M.  D.,  Prof.  Materia 

Medica  and  Therapeutics ;  J.  M.  Dunlap,  M.  D.,  Demonstrator  of  Anatomy. 

( 

THE   BOBBS  DISPENSARY. 

This  is  an  institution  in  the  building  of  the  College,  and  is  so  named  in  honor 
of  the  late  Dr.  John  S.  Bobbs  of  this  city,  who,  at  his  death,  left  a  bequest  of  $2,000, 
to  be  employed  by  trustees  named  in  his  will,  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  Indian- 
apolis. The  Faculty  of  the  College,  of  which  Dr.  Bobbs  was  President  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  suggested,  as  the  means  of  most  advantageously  and  most  appropri- 


254  BOLLOWAT8  INDIANAPOLIS. 

ately  carrying  out  the  intentions  of  the  deceased,  that  the  bequest  be  used  in  estab- 
lishing and  aiding  in  the  maintenance  of  a  Dispensary  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor 
of  the  city.  The  plan  was  so  appropriate  that  it  was  put  into  effect;  and  the  re- 
sult is  the  Bobbs  Dispensary,  by  means  of  which  poor  people  in  need  of  medical 
assistance,  and  unable  to  pay  for  it,  receive  the  necessary  treatment.  Those  inca- 
pable of  attending  the  Dispensary  are  visited  by  some  one  of  the  corps  of  attend- 
ing physicians,  composed  of  members  of  the  College  Faculty. 

In  addition  to  the  bequest  of  Dr.  Bobbs,  the  county  makes  an  annual  appropri- 
ation of  §700,  and  the  city  a  similar  appropriation  of  §600,  in  support  of  the  insti- 
tion.  The  bequest  could  in  no  other  way  have  been  employed  so  beneficially  aad 
«o  appropriately. 

In  April  last  the  Resident  Physician  made  the  following  report  to  the  City 
Council : 

Whole  number  of  patients  treated 331 

Number  of  visits  made 468 

Number  of  post  mortem  examinations  made 4 

Number  vaccinated 29 

Number  of  surgical  operations , 37 

Number  of  prescriptions  filled  at  Dispensary ~ 889 

THE  INDIANA  SURGICAL  INSTITUTE 

Is  located  on  the  corner  of  Illinois  and  Georgia  streets. 

This  Institute  was  incorporated  July  24th,  1869,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $150,- 
000.00,  for  the  treatment  of  deformities  of  the  spine  and  limbs,  and  all  descriptions 
of  surgical  cases.  For  ten  years  prior  to  the  time  of  its  establishment  in  Indian- 
apolis, this  enterprise  had  been  carried  on  in  Illinois,  and  it  was  then  removed  to 
this  city  because  of  its  more  central  and  more  easly  accessible  location. 

The  building  will  accommodate  about  three  hundred  patients,  and  is  capable 
of  affording  treatment  to  about  three  thousand  cases  annually.  The  number  of 
patients  treated  is  generally  equal  to  the  greatest  capacity  of  the  institution. 

In  respect  of  the  capital  invested,  of  the  mechanical  and  other  appliances  for 
the  treatment  of  patients,  of  capacities  and  facilities  generally,  this  institution  has 
no  superior  in  the  United  States.  Its  patronage  is  correspondingly  great  in  num- 
ber, and  is  distributed  over  a  corresponding  area  of  territory. 

Patients  from  twenty-five  States  have  resorted  to  this  institution  for  treatment. 
During  the  past  year  more  than  ten  thousand  people  have  visited  Indianapolis 
because  of  the  Surgical  Institute,  paying  to  the  various  railroads  over  $100,000  in 
the  way  of  fares,  and  expending  in  the  city,  for  board,  merchandise,  treatment, 
etc.,  nearly  $400,000. 

The  Institute  gives  employment  to  over  fifty  persons,  including  surgeons 
mechanics  and  nurses.  The  buildings,  which  were  at  first  considered  ample,  have 
since  proved  to  be  too  small  to  accommodate  the  demand. 

The  institution  is  provided  with  the  various  kinds  of  baths :  the  Turkish,  Rus- 
sian, electro-thermal,  &c.;  also,  a  large  machine-shop,  with  a  steam  engine,  and  the 
requisite  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  the  apparatus  and  appliances  employed 
in  the  treatment  of  deformities. 

The  superior  facilities  afforded  by  the  institution  are  attested  by  the  results. 
Numerous  cases  of  the  more  hopeless  descriptions,  of  children  and  adults  aSlicted 
with  deformities  ordinarily  considered  incurable,  have  been  successfully  treated 
here.  Paralysis  of  the  young,  crooked  feet,  legs,  hands  and  arms,  hare-lip,  deform- 


TEMPERANCE  SOCIETIES.  255 

Ities  of  the  face,  tumors;  such  are  the  chief  phases  of  deformity  and  affliction  that — 
defying  ordinary  curative  powers — find  their  way  to  this  institution,  and  there  are 
proven  to  be  tractable  and  curable. 

Victims  of  accidents  upon  the  railways,  of  explosions,  runaways,  or  whatever 
cause,  are  frequently  taken  to  the  Institute  for  treatment,  on  account  of  its  admitted 
superior  facilities  for  surgical  treatment. 

While  the  Institute  is  an  individual  enterprise,  it  is  in  no  small  sense  a  benev- 
olent institution.  Patients  who  are  able  to  pay,  are  required  to  do  so;  but  many 
indigent  sufferers  are  treated  gratuitously. 

The  object  of  the  institution  is  the  treatment  of  that  large  class  of  sufferers,  that 
can  obtain  no  benefit  from  the  general  practitioner  of  the  healing  art,  because  of 
his  want  of  the  necessary  adjuncts  in  the  way  of  surgical  appliances.  Here  all 
the  approved  adjuncts  are  at  hand.  Mechanical  contrivances  adapted  to-the  varied 
types  of  deformity  and  essential  to  work  cures,  baths  suited  to  the  patient's  case 
and  constitution,  here  make  corrigible  what  without  them  would  be  hopeless.  And 
should  the  attending  surgeon  require  the  assistance  of  some  peculiar  apparatus  not 
at  hand,  he  has  the  requisite  machinery  and  skilled  workmen  to  make  what  is 
wanted. 

With  such  facilities  and  capacities,  the  Surgical  Institute  has  very  naturally 
great  success  in  treating  the  afflicted. 

• 

TEMPERANCE    SOCIETIES. 


This  city  is  the  headquarters  for  the  State  of  the  following  Temperance  organ- 
izations :  The  Indiana  State  Temperance  Alliance,  Sons  of  Temperance,  Gfood  Temp- 
lars, Temple  of  Honor. 

The  State  Temperance  Alliance  was  organized  in  this  city  December  llth,  1867. 
Its  fir-t  anual  session  was  held  here  on  the  26th  February,  1868;  the  second,  on 
the  2d  and  3d  February,  1869;  the  third,  on  the  2d  and  3d  February,  1870;  the 
fourth,  on  the  1st  and  2d  February,  1871. 

The  Alliance — as  its  name  implies — is  a  union  of  all  the  advocates  of  total 
abstinence  from  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors  in  the  titate.  Its  membership  is, 
therefore,  largely — but  not  exclusively — composed  of  members  of  the  other  Tem- 
perance organizations.  The  administration  of  the  society  is  vested  in  a  Board  of 
Officers  and  a  Board  of  Managers.  The  present  Board  of  Officers  is  as  follows: 

R.  T.  Brown,  President,  Indianapolis;  N.  W.  Bruice,  Vice  President,  Lafay- 
ette; C.  Martindale,  General  Agent  and  Corresponding  Secretary,  Indianapolis;  T. 
A.  Goodwin,  Recording  Secretary,  Indianapolis;  J.  B.  Abbett,  Treasurer,  Indiana- 
polis. 

With  reference  to  the  Board  of  Managers,  the  State  is  divided  into  three 
divisions,  each  having  a  Board  of  ten  members. 

Subordinate  to  the  State  Alliances,  there  are  five  ''•  District  "  Alliances  in  the 
State,  holding  Conventions  quarterly;  also  an  Alliance  in  each  county. 

During  the  past  two  years  about  one  hundred  thousand  persons  have  become 
members  of  this  society;  and  the  sum  of  nearly  $40,000  has  been  raised  and 
expended  under  the  direction  of  its  managers. 

Briefly  stated,  the  object  of  the  society  is  to  discourage  the  use  and  sale  of 
intoxicating  liquors;  to  repress  the  traffic  therein,  by  the  enforcement  of  existing 
laws,  and  the  speedy  enactment  of  more  stringent  and  prohibitory  legislation  in 


256  HOLLOWATB  INDIANAPOLIS. 

that  regard.  Prominent  among  the  means  employed,  are  the  copious  distribution 
of  Temperance  literature,  the  efforts  of  lecturers  (of  whom  six  are  employed),  &c. 

The  city  Alliance  has  about  two  thousand  members. 

The  "  Temperance  Alliance"  is  the  name  of  the  official  organ  of  the  State  Tem- 
perance Alliance.  It  is  published  monthly  in  this  city.  Its  editor  is  Kev.  C.  Mar- 
tindale,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  organization. 


INDEPENDENT   ORDER  OF    GOOD   TEMPLARS. 

This  is  the  most  numerous  and  influential  secret  Temperance  organization  in 
the  State  The  Grand  Lodge  meets  in  Indianapolis  once  in  each  year. 

la  this  city  tdere  are  eight  lodges,  with  a  membership  of  about  eight  hundred. 
Four  of  these  Lodges  meet  at  the  "  Good  Templars'  Hall,"  one  at  the  "  Temperance 
Alliance  Hall,"  and  the  others  in  different  parts  of  the  city.  There  about  three 
hundred  Subordinate  Lodges  in  the  State,  and  about  fifteen  thousand  members. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge  are:  E.  B.  Reynolds,  Esq.,  G.  W.  C. 
T.;  Kev.  S.  B.  Falkenburg,  G.  W.  C.;  Miss  A.  M.  Way,  G.  W.  V.  T.;  Sylvester 
Johnson,  G.  W.  S.;  H.  F.  Underwood,  G.  W.  T.;  John  W.  Buttriss,  G.  W.  M.;  Miss 
Ella  Eex,  G.  W.  D.  M ;  Miss  Sarah  Beeves,  G.  W.  I.  G.;  M.  W.  Jackson,  G.  W. 
O.  G.  Rev.  E.  Gaskins,  G.  W.  Chaplain. 

The  number  of  members  "in  good  standing,"  in  this  city,  is  about  one  thou- 
sand. 

SONS   OF   TEMPERANCE. 

This  order,  considered  as  to  North  America,  embraces  in  its  organization 
National,  Grand  and  Subordinate  Divisions. 

The  National  Division  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  was  organized  in  the  city  of 
New  York  on  the  17th  June,  1844.  At  the  present  time  the  order  has  been  carried 
into  nearly  all  the  States  and  Territories  of  the  Union,  and  in  all  the  British  North 
American  Provinces.  During  the  twenty-seven  years  of  its  existence  there  have 
been  admitted  into  the  Order,  in  this  country,  more  than  two  millions  of  members. 

The  Indiana  Grand  Division  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  of  which  this  city  is 
the  headquarters,  was  organized  May  2d,  1846.  In  1861,  there  were  about  four 
hundred  and  ninety  Subordinate  Divisions  in  the  State.  Since  then  the  order,  con- 
sidered as  to  this  city  and  State,  has  retrograded  in  numbers,  owing  to  the  war  and 
other  causes,  until  now  there  are  but  forty  Subordinate  Divisions  in  the  State.  This 
decline  appears  to  have  been  arrested;  and  the  membership  in  this  city  and  State 
is  reported  to  be  again  increasing  steadily. 

The  order  in  this  city  is  represented  by  Washington  Division  No.  1 ;  which  has 
a  membership  of  about  fifty. 

TEMPLE   OF   HONOR. 

The  Subordinate  bodies  of  this  order  are  called  Temples;  the  State  body  is 
called  the  Grand  Temple. 

The  order  is  represented  in  this  city  by  one  Temple,  organized  on  the  27th 
March,  1870,  and  having  about  fifty  members. 

The  Grand  Temple  meets  annually,  on  the  fourth  Monday  of  May ;  it  has  no 
fixed  place  of  meeting. 


UNITED  STATES  ARSENAL.  257 

The  Grand  Officers  are:  Joseph  A.  Williams,  W.  C.  T.,  New  Albany;  J. 
J.  Young,  W.  V.  T.,  Evansville ;  Will.  A.  Quigley,  W.  K.,  Madison. 

The  Supreme  Council,  the  head  of  the  Order  for  North  America  and  the  Brit- 
ish Provinces,  meets  annually  in  July — this  year  at  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

ST.  PATRICK'S  TEMPERANCE  BENEVOLENT  SOCIETY. 

This  is  the  title  of  an  Irish  Temperance  Society,  organized  in  1870.  It  now 
numbers  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  members. 

UNITED  STATES  ARSENAL. 

One  of  the  prominent  "objects  of  interest"  is  the  United  States  Arsenal  build- 
ing and  grounds,  situated  on  a  commanding  eminence  east  of  the  city,  about  half  a 
mile  north  of  Washington  street,  and  one  mile  and  a-half  east  of  Circle  Park. 

The  location  of  an  Arsenal  at  this  city  was  authorized  by  act  of  Congress, 
early  in  the  Rebellion.  Its  establishment  here  was  in  March,  1863,  and,  pending 
the  erection  of  the  present  buildings,  a  rented  building,  on  the  corner  of  Delaware 
and  Maryland  streets,  was  used  for  the  purposes  of  the  Arsenal,  Captain  William 
Y.  Wiley  O.  S.  K.,  in  charge.  Captain  Wiley  resigned  his  commission  on  the  14th 
of  October,  1870. 

The  site  of  the  Arsenal  was  selected  by  General  Buckingham,  and  work  on 
the  buildings  was  commenced  in  August,  1863.  These,  with  the  exception  of  some 
minor  details,  have  been  completed  and  occupied  some  years. 

Of  these  buildings  the  following  is  a  brief  description  : 

Main  building — Three  stories  high,  one  hundred  and  eighty-three  feet  long, 
and  sixty-three  feet  wide;  for  the  storage  of  arms,  &c. 

Artillery  Store-house — Two  stories  high,  two  hundred  and  one  feet  long,  and 
fifty-two  feet  wide;  for  the  storage  of  artillery,  &c. 

Magazine — One  story  high,  fifty  feet  long  and  thirty-four  feet  wide;  for  sto- 
ring powder. 

Office — One  story  high,  forty-three  feet  long  and  twenty-two  feet  wide. 

Barracks — Two  stories  high,  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  five  feet  long  and 
thirty-two  feet  wide;  for  the  enlisted  men. 

Two  Sets  Officers'  Quarters — Two  and  a  half  stories  high,  eighty  feet  long  and 
forty  feet  wide. 

One  Set  of  Officers'  Quarters — One  story  and  a  half  high,  forty-seven  feet 
long  and  twenty-eight  feet  wide. 

All  of  these  buildings,  with  the  exception  of  a  portion  of  the  officers'  quarters, 
are  built  of  stone  and  pressed  brick,  and  are  both  substantial  and  imposing  in  ap- 
pearance. 

The  grounds  consist  of  seventy-six  acres,  and  have  great  advantages  in  respect  of 
beauty  as  well  as  of  utility.  Nature  has  given  the  site  a  commanding  elevation, 
an  undulating  surface  and  numerous  forest  trees.  To  these  art  has  added  the  beau- 
tifying auxiliaries  of  shrubbery,  fine  drives  and  walks,  &c.  A  stream  of  running 
water  passes  through  one  corner.  About  twenty-five  acres  are  used  for  pasturage 
and  garden  purposes;  the  rest  for  the  buildings  and  surrounding  grounds. 

The  grounds  and  improvements — especially  in  summer  and  autumn-time — 
unite  in  forming  one  of  the  most  picturesque  and  attractive  localities  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  city. 
(17) 


258  HOLLOWA T'S    INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  several  commandants  from  the  beginning  have  been :  William  Y.  Wiley, 
Captain  and  O.  S.  K. ;  T.  J.  Treadwell,  Captain  of  Ordnance;  Jarnes  M.  Whit- 
temore,  Captain  of  Ordnance;  William  H.  Harris,  Captain  of  Ordnance  and  Bre- 
vet Lieut.  Colonel  U.  S.  A,;  and  R.  M.  Hill,  Captain  of  Ordnance  and  Brevet 
Major  U.  S.  A.,  the  present  commandant. 

UNION    DEPOT. 

Location:  On  Louisiana  street,  between  Illinois  and  Meridian  streets. 

The  eleven  railways  centering  in  this  city,  all  converge  in  the  Union  Depot. 
No  equal  convenience  of  a  like  character  is  found  anywhere  else  in  this  country. 
The  ends  of  the  earth,  so  to  speak,  are  here  brought  into  connection  under  one 
roof,  and  long  transfers  from  one  depot  to  another,  involving  expense,  inconve- 
nieace  and  delay,  are  avoided. 

The  building,  and  so  much  of  the  tracks  leading  into  it  as  lie  within  the  city 
limits,  belong  to  the  Union  Railway  Company ;  that  is,  to  an  association  composed 
of  the  following  railway  companies:  Jefferson  ville,  Madison  &  Indianapolis;  Terre 
Haute  &  Indianapolis;  Bellefontaine;  Indianapolis  &  Cincinnati;  Indiana  Central. 
The  remaining  six  companies  occupy  the  depot  as  tenants. 

The  Union  Railway  Company  was  formed  in  1850,  and  was  at  that  time  com- 
posed of  the  Madison  &  Indianapolis,  Beliefountaine,  and  Terre  Haute  &  Rich- 
mond Companies;  of  which  John  Brough,  Oliver  H.  Smith  and  Chauncey  Rose 
were,  respectively,  the  Presidents.  These  three  men,  since  famous  in  history,  and 
of  whom  Mr.  Rose  alone  is  yet  living,  were  thus  the  founders  of  the  Union  Depot. 

Gen.  T.  A.  Morris,  as  Chief  Engineer,  superintended  the  erection  of  the  build- 
ing, which  was  completed  in  1853.  At  that  time  only  the  Madison,  Bellefontaine, 
Terre  Haute,  and  Peru  Railways  were  in  operation  Soon  after  tbe  Indianapolis 
&  Cincinnati,  and  the  Indiana  Central  Railways  were  admitted  into  the  associa- 
tion, and  therefore  into  the  Depot.  The  Indianapolis  &  Peru  Company  never  had 
any  interest  in  the  Depot,  and  but  a  slight  intereet  in  the  tracks,  which  it  subse- 
•  quently  sold  to'the  association.  The  Lafayette  &  Indianapolis  Company  was  admit- 
mitted,  with  tenant  rights,  in  1854;  the  Jeffersonville  &  Indianapolis  Company  in 
1855;  The  Cincinnati  &  Indianapolis  Junction  in  1858;  the  Indianapolis  Bloom- 
ington  &  Western,  and  the  Indianapolis  &  Vincennes  in  1869;  .and  the  Indianapo- 
lis &  St.  Louis  in  1870. 

Mr.  William  N".  Jackson,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  Union  Railway  Com- 
pany, has  had  charge  of  the  Union  Depot  ever  since  its  opening  in  September,  1853. 

The  dimensions  of  the  building  are  four  hundred  and  twenty  by  two  hundred 
feet. 

The  expansion  of  our  railway  system  has  greatly  exceeded  even  the  liberal 
anticipations  of  the  projectors  and  founders  of  the  Union  Depot;  and  extensive  as 
are  its  provisions,  it  has  grown  to  be  insufficient  for  the  great  demands  upon  it. 
Its  available  space  is  entirely  taken  up  by  the  net- work  of  tracks  of  which  it  is  the 
focus — presenting  at  times,  during  the  day,  a  scene  of  apparent  confusion  very 
like  a  tangled  skein,  having  neither  begin nmg  nor  end  to  it,  but  which  the  care 
and  efficiency  of  its  management  always  unravels  in  good  order.  The  number  of 
trains  daily  arriving  in,  and  departing  from,  the  Union  Depot  now  averages  about 
seventy-six,  many  of  them  of  great  length.  It  is  estimated  that  the  annual  num- 
ber of  arrivals  and  departures  of  passengers  at  this  depot  amounts  to  two  millions. 
But,  as  before  remaked,  the  demands  upon  the  Depot  have  outgrown  its  ca- 


COUNTY  CORUT  HOUSE— CEMETERIES.  259 

•pacities,  large  as  they  are,  and  the  want  of  room  entails  greatly  increased  respon- 
sibilities upon  the  management. 

The  erection  of  a  similar  building  and  on  a  larger  scale,  now  urgently 
demanded,  must  ere  long  become  a  necessity,  if  the  great  convenience  of  one  pas- 
senger depot  for  all  our  railway  lines  is  to  be  continued. 

The  cost  of  the  site  and  improvements  of  the  Union  Depot  property  has  been 
about  $275,000. 

THE  COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE. 

Location:    Court  House  Square,  on   Washington  Street,  between  Alabama  and 
Delaware  streets. 

As  the  present  rude  structure,  that,  has  for  so  many  years  sufficed  for  the  pur- 
poses of  the  courts  and  offices  of  the  county,  is  in  process  of  gradual  dismember- 
ment, to  give  way  to  a  new  .and  more  becoming  structure;  it  is  the  latter,  as  it 
T/ill  be  when  completed,  that  is  to  be  described  here.  The  building  will  front  on 
Washington  street ;  the  lineal  extent  of  the  front  will  be  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  feet;  the  depth  of  the  main  building,  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet;  and  that  of 
the  two  wings,  one  hundred  and  four  feet  each.  The  elevation  of  the  main  coriiice 
will  be  eighty-one  feet;  and  of  the  tower,  two  hundred  feet.  The  building  will 
consist  of  three  stories,  with  a  basement  and  a  Mansard  roof.  Two  minor  towers, 
one  at  the  extremity  of  each  wing,  will  be  about  one  hundred  feet  in  hight. 

The  style  of  architecture  is  the  Renaissance.  The  ground  floor  will  contain  the 
several  county  offices;  the  second  story,  the  courts,  consultation,  library,  and  wit- 
nesses' rooms ;  the  third  (a  mezzanine),  the  jury  rooms,  &c.  The  basement  will  be 
devoted  to  general  utility  purposes.  Beneath  the  basement  floor  will  be  the  heating 
apparatus. 

There  will  be  three  main  entrances  to  the  building;  on  the  south,  west  and  east. 
The  court  and  other  rooms  will  be  spacious,  and  appropriate  in  the  style  or  their 
finish,  with  ceilings  of  great  elevation.  The  whole  building  will  be  traversed  by 
spacious  halls  and  corridors,  and  will  be  supplied  with  an  abundance  of  light.  The 
ground  plan  is  rectangular  in  form,  and  its  entire  linear  extent  is  one  tho-usand 
six  hundred  and  eighty  feet.  The  plan  makes  due  provisions  for  a  jail  building, 
jail  yard,  and  Sheriff's  residence  in  the  rear,  and  comprehends  two  entrance  gates 
ou  each  side — the  two  on  the  north  side  being  designed  for  carriages. 

The  plans  are  perfected,  and  the  foundation  is  now  rising.  It  is  calculated 
that  the  building  will  be  completed  in  about  four  years,  at  an  estimated  cost  of 
about  $500,000. 

CEMETERIES. 

CROWN -HILL   CEMETERY. 

Location:     Two  miles  north-west  of  the  city  limits. 

The  dates  of  the  establishment,  dedication,  etc.,  of  Crown-Hill  Cemetery,  with 
the  names  of  the  incorporators  and  managers,  are  stated  in  the  general  historical 
sketch,  page  125. 

The  total  area  of  the  grounds  is  three  hundred  and  forty-nine  acres.  The  location 
is  the  most  beautiful  and  appropriate  for  the  purpose  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city ; 
and  its  superiors  anywhere  are  very  few.  It  takes  its  name  from  that  of  the  only 
considerable  eminence  near  the  city.  The  grounds  would  appear  to  have  been 


BOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

especially  ordained  by  nature  for  the  purposes  of  a  last  resting  place.  They  com- 
bine the  attractions  of  a  rural  cemetry  with  convenience  of  distance  from  the  city — 
yet  not  so  near  as  to  be  in  danger  of  encroachment  from  the  extension  of  the  city 
limits.  A  turnpike  road  is  on  the  west  line,  and  another  on  the  east;  while  a  street 
railway  to  the  main  entrance  brings  it  within  a  half  hour's  ride  of  the  city.  The 
grounds  are  cut  by  small  ravines  into  undulations  of  convenient  size  for  sections ; 
and  the  carriage-roads  are  so  surveyed  and  laid  out  as  to  take  advantage  of  this- 
feature.  The  sections,  therefore,  vary  in  size  and  figure,  and  the  winding  roads  aid 
in  producing  a  picturesque  effect. 

It  has  been  the  usage,  in  other  principal  cemeteries,  to  lay  off  the  space  in 
square  of  rectangular  lots,  without  regard  to  the  configuration  of  the  ground;  im- 
parting a  certain  monotony  of  aspect,  which  is  obviated  here  by  sections  of  multi- 
form figures,  and  various  size.  This  not  only  varies  the  aspect  of  the  grounds,  but 
brings  about  "  that  true  fraternity  and  comity  of  interests  between  the  rich  and 
poor  which  should  especially  prevail  in  the  city  of  the  dead." 

Large  and  magnificent  lots,  valued  at  thousands  of  dollars,  are  joined  by  small 
plots  which  are  within  the  means  of  the  humblest  citizen;  and  the  elaborate  and 
costly  monuments  on  the  former  add  greatly  to  the  beauty  of  the  more  unpreten- 
tious memorial  stones  on  the  latter.  Every  section  contains  its  large  lots,  and 
small  and  cheap  ones  also;  and  each  presents  attractions  for  all  classes,  so  that 
there  can  never  be  a  separation  of  the  Cemetery  into  divisions  for  different 
classes. 

A  section  of  the  cemetery,  on  a  beautiful  and  commanding  knoll,  la  set  apart 
for  a  resting  place  for  the  Union  soldiers  who  died  while  on  duty  in  this  city, 
or  whose  remains  have  been  brought  here  for  interment. 

To  the  natural  beauties  of  the  grounds,  in  their  picturesque  undulations  and 
abundance  of  forest  trees,  individual  taste  and  affection  have  added  (under  judi- 
cious regulations  by  the  managers),  the  ornaments  of  evergreens  and  flowering 
plants.  Inclosures  of  lots  have  been  forbidden,  as  marring  the  appearances  of  a 
cemetery,  and  tending,  with  the  rust  and  decay  of  time,  to  disfigure  rather  than  to 
beautify. 

The  tendency,  in  so  many  cemeteries,  to  too  great  a  profusion  of  shrubbery 
and  shade  trees,  which  excludes  sunlight  and  makes  the  grounds  dark  and  damp, 
is  confined  within  judicious  limits  here. 

The  Cemetery  is  a  public  institution  in  which  every  person  who  purchases  a 
burial  plot  has  as  great  an  interest  as  any  of  the  incorporators  or  managers — the 
second  of  the  articles  of  incorporation  being  as  follows:  "  The  distinct  and  irrevoc- 
able principle  on  which  this  association  is  founded,  and  to  remain  forever  (except 
as  hereinafter  allowed),  is  that  the  entire  funds  arising  from  the  sale  of  burial  lots- 
and  the  proceeds  of  any  investment  of  said  fands,  shall  be  and  they  are  specifically 
dedicated  to  the  purchase  and  improvement  of  the  grounds  for  the  Cemetery,  and 
keeping  them  durably  and  permanently  inclosed,  and  in  perpetual  repair  through 
all  future  time,  including  all  incidental  expenses  for  approach  to  the  Cemetery,  and 
the  proper  management  of  the  same ;  and  that  no  part  of  such  funds  shall,  as  divi- 
dends, profits,  or  in  any  manner  whatever,  inure  to  the  corporators." 

The  exception  provided  for  in  the  foregoing  article  is  the  provision  of  the  thir- 
teenth article,  that  -'after  twenty-five  years  shall  have  expired  from  the  organiza- 
tion of  this  corporation,  by  a  vote  of  twenty-five  of  the  corporators  living  in  the 
county  of  Marion,  Indiana,  and  after  a  fund  has  accumulated  which  will  amply 
and  permanently  provide  for  the  preservation,  sustaining  and  ornamenting  the 


CEMETERIES.  261 

•Cemetery,  sucli  alteration  may  be  made,  at  any  annual  meeting,  in  the  princi- 
ples and  limitations  of  these  articles  as  that  out  of  the  surplus  funds  of  this  Ceme- 
tery or  association,  contributions  and  appropriations  may  be  made  by  the  managers 
in  aid  of  the  poor  of  Indianapolis." 

The  success  of  the  enterprise  will  appear  from  a  comparison  with  other  well 
known  cemeteries.  The  receipts  from  the  sale  of  lots  in  Greenwood  Cemetery, 
during  the  first  five  years  after  it  was  opened,  were  $54,298. 17,  and  the  like  receipts 
in  Spring-Grove  Cemetery,  during  the  first  twelve  years,  $128,892.49.  The  like  re- 
ceipts in  Crown  Hill  Cemetery,  from  the  date  of  its  dedication  to  January  1st,  1870 
(four  years),  were  $172,060.70. 

The  Crown  Hill  Street  Railroad,  built  chiefly  by  the  Cemetery  Company,  at  a 
cost  of  $17,000,  was  permanently  leased  to,  and  is  now  operated  by,  the  Street 
Railway  Company,  of  Indianapolis. 

Crown  Hill  Cemetery  has  been  under  the  immediate  care  of  F.  W.  Chislett,  as 
Superintendent,  ever  since  its  establishment;  and  its  «ondition  is  the  best  evidence 
he  could  desire,  of  his  efficiency. 

The  number  of  interments  to  January  1st,  1871,  aggregated  two  thousand  one 
hundred. 

It  contains  many  elegant  monuments;  and,  whether  in  respect  of  natural 
beauty  of  site  or  added  -ornaments,  ranks  conspicuously  among  the  cemeteries  of 
the  country. 

CIO-Y  CEMETERY. 

Location :  On  Kentucky  Avenue,  between  West  street  and  the  river. 

Of  the  establishment  of  this  Cemetery,  and  other  principal  facts  of  its  history 
mention  is.  made  on  -page  —  of  the  historical  sketch  in  <the  first  part  of  this  volume. 

It  was,  until  the  opening  of  Crown  Hill  -Cemetery,  the  principal  burial  ground 
of  Indianapolis. 

The  original  tract  consisted  of  but  four  acres.  As  need  arose  for  more  space, 
several  additions  were  made  by  incorporated  companies,  the  City  having  only  a  sort 
of  general  administrative  supervision  over  these  additions,  and  the  expenses  of 
of  keeping  the  grounds  in  repair  being  borne  toy  the  .proprietors  and  lot  owners. 

The  site  is  a  favorable  one,  and  the  added  ornaments,  in  the  matter  of  shade 
'trees,  shrubbery,  drives,  etc.,  extensive ;  but  since  the  opening  of  Crown  Hill  Cem- 
etery, the  City  Cemetery  has  fallen  into  comparative  disuse. 

The  names  of  many  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  by-gone  days  are  recorded 
on  the  memorial  etones  here;  among  others  that  of  Ex-Governor  Whitcomb. 

With  the  exception  of  about  one  hundred,  the  lots  are  all  sold,;  but  less  than 
•half  of  them  are  occupied,  as>  yet,  by  graves. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  number  of  interments  in  this  cemetery. 

Of  the  additions  to  the  cemetery,  the  principal  are  as  follows : 

The  Union  Cemet&ry,  consisting  of  five  acres,  laid  off  in  February,  1834,  by 
Nicholas  McCarty,  Sr.,  Isaac  Coe,  James  Blake,  James  M.  Ray  and  John  G. 
Brown. 

The  next  addition,  consisting  of  seven  and  one-half  acres,  was  laid  off"  by  E.  J. 
'Peck,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Terre  Haute  and  Indianapolis  Railway  Company,  in 
February,  1852. 

In  September,  1838,  a  Philadelphia  company,  under  [the  name  of  Siter,  Price 
&  Co.,  laid  off  a  third  addition,  .embracing  two  out-loti»  of  the  city,  which  was  called 
Lawn  Cemetery. 


2Q2  •  HOLLOWA1TS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  original  grounds  and  the  several  additions  above  mentioned,  are  in  one 
inclosure,  and  are  collectively  called  The  City  Cemetery.  The  entire  area  of  this 
cemetery  is  about  twenty-five  acres. 

THE    HEBREW   CEMETERY.. 

Location:     Three  miles  south  of  the  center  of  the  city-. 

The  grounds  consist  of  three  acres.  As  its  name  implies,  this  cemetery  is  de- 
voted to  the  uses  of  a  burial  place  for  the- Jewish  population. 

It  was  established  in  1856,  and  was  the  first  property  purchased  by  the  Hebrew 
congregation  of  Indianapolis. 

It  handsomely  laid  off  in  lots,  but  a  small  proportion  of  which  have  been  re- 
quired for  interments,  the  Jewish  population  of  the  city  being  proportionabjy 
small. 

The  grounds  are  appropriately  inclosed,  and  if  not  picturesque  either  by  na- 
ture or  art,  are  nevertheless  maintained  in  a  neat  and  tasteful  condition, 

THE   CATHOLIC   CEMETERY. 

Location :     Two  miles  south  of  the  city. 

The  grounds  of  this  cemetery  consist  of  eighteen  acres;  of  which  ffve  acre? 
belong  to  the  German  (St.  Mary's)  congregation,  and  the  remainder  to  the  other 
Catholic  congregations.  The  whole  tract  was  purchased  in  the  year  1860,  by  the 
Rev.  Aug.  Bessonies.  pastor  of  St.  John's  Church,  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,500.  The 
value  of  the  tract  to-da-y  would  be  about  $4,000. 

The  grounds  have  no  striking  natural  aspects.  The  site  is  sufficiently  undu- 
lating for  all  essential  purposes,  and  art  has  done  much  to  ornament  the  spot,  in  the 
way  of  evergreens,  shade  trees,  &c.  The  whole  is  neatly  inclosed,  and  contains  a 
number  of  elegant  monuments. 

IJJTHEBAN   CEMETERY. 

On  the  first  of  May,  1870,  the  Trustees  of  St.  Paul's  German  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  purchased  ten  acres  of  ground,  situated  a  short  distance  south  of 
the  city,  on  the  Three-notch  road,  between  the  Madison  and  Bluff  roads,  for  a  cem- 
etery foB  the  members  of  that  society.  The  grounds  have  been  laid  off  in  rectan- 
gular lots,  generally  forty  by  sixty  feet.  The  number  of  interments  at  the  date  of 
this  writing  is  five  hundred  and  five. 

LAW   COURTS. 

The  pricipal  law  courts  located  here  are  : 

The  United  States  Circuit  and  District  Courts;  the  Supreme  Court  of  In- 
diana; the  Criminal  Circuit,  the  Civil  Circuit,  and  the  Common  Pleas  Courts  of 
Marion  county,  and  the  Superior  Court. 

UNITED  STATES   COURTS. 

The  United  States  District  and  Circuit  Courts  are  held  in  the  Government 
building,  corner  of  Pennsylvania  and  Market  streets.. 


LAW  COURTS.  263 

District  Court. — The  United  States  District  Court,  for  the  District  of  Indiana, 
was  constituted  by  an  act  of  Congress,  approved  March  3d,  1817.  Under  this  act 
the  District  Court  had  Circuit  Court  jurisdiction,  and  the  judge's  salary  was  fixed 
at  $1,000  a  year,  which  has  since  been  increased,  from  time  to  time,  to  $3,500  a 
year.  The  following  have  been  judges  of  this  Court:  Benjamin  Park,  1817  to 
1825;  Jesse  L.  Holman,  1835  to  1842;  Elisha  M.  Huntington,  1842  to  1863;  Caleb 
B.  Smith,  1863  to  1864;  Albert  S.  White,  March  to  September,  1864;  David 
McDonald,  December  13,  1864.  to  August,  1869;  Walter  Q.  Gresham,  the  present 
incumbent,  since  1869. 

Circuit  Court. — The  judges  of  this  Court  have -been  John  McLean,  Noah  H. 
Svvayne,  David  Davis  and  Thomas  H.  Drummond.  Judges  McLean,  Swayne  and 
Davis  presided  in  the  Circuit  Court  by  virtue  of  their  offices  as  Associate  Justices 
of  the  Supremo  Court  of  the  United  States.  Judge  Drummond  presides  as  Judge 
of  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Seventh  Judicial  Circuit,  com- 
posed of  the  States  of  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Wisconsin;  a  recent  law  of  Congress 
having  created  a  circuit  judge  for  each  judicial  circuit. 

District  Attorneys — Thomas  Blake,  1817  to  1819;  Alexander  Meek,  1819  to 
1822;  Charles  Dewey,  1822  to  1829;  Samuel  Judah,  1829  to  1837;  Tighlman  A. 
Howard,  1837  to  1840;  John  Pettit,  1840  to  1842;  Courtland  Gushing,  1842  to  1844; 
Daniel  Mace,  1844  to  1848;  Lucien  Barbour,  1848  to  1850;  Hugh  O'Neal,  1850  to 
1853;  Benjamin  M.  Thomas,  1853  to  1856;  Alvin  P.  Hovey,  1856  to  1858;  Daniel 
W.  Voorhees,  1858  to  1861;  John  Hanna,  1861  to  1866;  Alfred  Kilgore,  1866  to 
1869;  Thomas  M.  Browne,  the  present  Attorney,  from  May  term,  1869. 

Clerks  of  Circuit  and  District  Courts — Henry  Hurst,  from  181 7  to  1835;  Horace 
Bassett,  from  Nov.  30,  1835,  to  May  24,  1853;  when  John  H.  Rea  was  appointed 
•District  Clerk.  Mr.  Bassett  continued  Circuit  Clerk  to  December  20,  1860,  when 
Mr.  Rea  was  appointed  to  that  place.  He  continued  to  held  both  offices  to  Septem- 
ber 15,  1863,  when  Watt.  J.  Smith  was  appointed  District  Clerk.  These  gentlemen 
remained  in  office  until  April  18,  1865,  when  J.  D.  Howland  was  appointed  to  both 
clerkships. 

Marshals— John  Vawter,  1817  to  1829;  William  Marshall,  May  4,  1829,  to 
1830;  Gamaliel  Taylor,  May  7,  1830,  to  1840;  Jesse  D.  Bright,  May  18,  1840,  to 
1841;  Robert  Hanna,  November  15,  1841,  to  1845;  Abel  C.  Pepper,  November  17, 
1845,  to  1849;  Solomon  Meredith,  May  21,  1849,  to  1853  ;  John  L.  Robinson,  May, 
1853,  to  1860;  Elisha  G.  English,  1860  to  1861;  David  G.  Rose,  April  1,  1861,  to 
1865;  Benjamin  Spooner,  the  present  Marshal,  April  24,  1865. 

Branch  Courts — During  the  present  year,  what  may  be  termed  Branches  of  the 
Circuit  and  District  Courts  have  been  established  at  New  Albany  and  Evansville,  by 
authority  of  a  late  act  of  Congress. 

THE   SUPREME   COURT   OF   INDIANA, 

Created  by  the  Constitution,  was  organized  by  an  act  of  the  first  General  Assembly 
of  the  State,  approved  on  the  23d  December,  1816.  The  first  term  began  on  the 
5th  May,  1817.  Up  to  1852  the  Supreme  bench  consisted  of  but  three  JudgesN 
who  were  appointed  by  the  Governor.  Since  then  there  have  been  four  Judges, 
elected  every  six  years  by  the  people.  The  following  shows  who  have  been  Judges 
'of  the  Supreme  Court  from  the  time  of  its  establishment,  and  the  period  of  service 
of  each: 

The  first  bench  consisted  of  James  Scott,  John  Johnson  and  Jesse  L.  Holman. 
At  the  December  term,  1817,  Isaac  Blackford  was  appointed  successor  of  John 


264  HOLLOWAY'8  INDIANAPOLIS. 

Johnson,  deceased.  On  the  28th  January,  1831,  Stephen  C.  Stevens  and  John  T. 
McKinney  succeeded  Judges  Scott  and  Holman.  On  the  30th  May,  1836,  Charles 
Dewey  was  appointed  successor  of  Judge  Stevens,  resigned,  and  Jeremiah  Sullivan, 
successor  of  Judge  McKinney,  deceased.  On  the  2lst  January,  1846,  Samuel  E. 
Perkins  succeeded  Judge  Sullivan.  On  the  29th  January,  1847,  Thomas  L.  Smith 
was  appointed  the  successor  of  Judge  Dewey. 

October  12th,  1852,  the  bench  having  been  increased  to  four  Judges,  by  an 
amendment  of  the  State  Constitution,  and  made  elective  by  the  people,  Samuel  E. 
Perkins,  Andrew  Davison  William  G.  Stewart,  and  Addison  L.  Koach  were  elec- 
ted— Judge  Blackford  holding  otfer,  as  a  fifth  Judge,  until  the  expiration  of  his 
appointment.  Judge  Blackford  retired  from  the  bench  on  the  3d  January,  1853, 
having  been  a  Judge  of  the  Court  thirty-six  years.  On  the  18th  May,  1854,  Alvin 
P.  Hovey  was  appointed  to  succeed  Judge  Roache,  resigned,  and  on  the  10th  Octo- 
ber following  Samuel  B.  Gookins  was  elected  the  successor  of  Judge  Hovey. 

December  10th,  1857,  James  M.  Hanna  was  appointed  to  fill  the  unexpired 
term  of  Judge  Gookins  resigned;  and  on  the  16th  January  James  L.  Worden  suc- 
ceeded Judge  Stewart,  resigned. 

On  the  llth  October,  1864,  Charles  A.  Kay,  Jehu  T.  Elliott,  James  S.  Frazer, 
and  Robert  C.  Gregory  were  elected  to  the  Supreme  Bench,  and  served  until  the 
expiration  of  their  term,  January  3d,  1871 ;  when  the  present  Court  was  sworn  in: 
Samuel  H.  Buskirk,  John  Pettit,  Alexander  C.  Downey,  and  James  L  Wordec,. 

The  Reports  of  the  decisions  of  this  Court,  from  the  date  of  its  organization 
to  the  present  time,  consist  of  forty-one  volumes. 

The  office  of  official  Reporter  of  the  Decisions  of  this  Court  was  created  in 
1852,  and  made  elective  every  four  years.  The  reports  of  the  decisions  of  the 
Court  up  to  May,  1848,  were  published  by  Judge  Blackford  in  eight  volumes,  and 
are  styled  Blackfords  Reports.  Another  of  the  Judges,  Smith,  published  a  report 
of  the  decisions  rendered  between  May,  1848,  and  May,  1850,  in  one  volume — not 
in  general  circulation  among  the  profession — called  Smith's  Report.  The  first  offi- 
cial  Reporter  was  Horace  Carter,  whose  reports  are  comprised  in  the  first  and  second 
volumes  of  the  Indiana  Reports — beginning  chronologically  where  Blackford's  Re- 
ports terminate.  Albert  G.  Porter  was  Reporter  of  volumes  three,  four,  five,  six 
and  seven ;  Gordon  Tanner,  of  volumes  eight,  nine,  ten,  eleven,  twelve,  thirteen 
and  fourteen  ;  Benjamin  Harrison,  of  volumes  fifteen,  sixteen  and  seventeen  ;  Mich- 
ael C.  Keer,  of  volumes  eighteen,  nineteen,  twenty,  twenty-one  and  twenty-two; 
Benjamin  Harrison,  of  volumes  twenty-three,  twenty-four,  twenty-five,  twenty-six, 
twenty-seven,  twenty-eight  and  twenty-nine;  James  B.  Black,  the  present  Reporter; 
of  volumes  thirty,  thirty-one  and  thirty-two. 

MARION   CIVIL   CIRCUIT   COURT. 

The  Civil  Circuit  Court  for  this  county  was  established  in  1821.  Up  .to  the 
creation  of  the  Criminal  Court,  it  had  jurisdiction  of  criminal  as  well  as  civil 
actions;  since  then,  of  civil  actions  only.  Its  present  jurisdiction  may  be  briefly 
stated  thus : 

Exclusive  jurisdiction  of  actions  for  slander  and  libel. 

Concurrent  jurisdiction  with  the  Common  Pleas  and  Superior  Courts,  in  all 
causes  where  the  amount  exceeds  $50;  and  with  the  Superior  Court  in  causes  in-' 
volving  the  title  to  real  estate,  and  in  those  charging  breach  of  marriage  contract- 

Appellate  jurisdiction  of  civil  causes  arising  in  the  justices  courts,  and  of  con. 
tested  wills  appealed  from  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 


LAW  COURTS.  265 

The  following  have  been  Judges  of  this  Court  from  the  time  of  its  organiza- 
tion: Wm  W.  Wick,  Bethuel  F.  Morris,  Wm.  W.  Wick,  Stephen  Major,  Wm.  J. 
Peaslee,  Wm.  W.  Wick,  Fubius  M.  Finch,  John  Coburn,  John  T.  Dye,  Cyrus  C. 
Hines,  and  John  S.  Tarkington,  the  present  Judge. 

SUPERIOR   COURT. 

This  Court  was  established  by  an  act  of  the  last  General  Assembly.  It  has  no 
exclusive  jurisdiction. 

Concurrent  jurisdiction  with  the  Circuit  Court  in  all  manner  of  civil  causes  of 
which  the  latter  has  jurisdiction,  except  actions  for  slander. 

Appellate  jurisdiction  of  all  civil  causes  arising  in  the  justices  courts. 

The  Court  has  three  J  udges,  who  each  try  causes  as  a  separate  Court,  at  what 
is  called  the  Special  Term, ;  and  who  jointly  determine  at  the  General  Term  appeals 
from  the  special  term. 

The  bench  consists  of  Judges  H.  C.  Newcomb,  Frederick  Kand  and  Solomon 
Blair. 

THE   MARION   CRIMINAL   CIRCUIT   COURT, 

Was  created,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  December  20,  1865.  There  are  six  courts 
of  this  description  in  the  State.  They  were  established  in  a  few  of  the  more  popu- 
lous counties  to  relieve  the  crowded  dockets  of  the  Civil  Courts  of  all  criminal 
causes,  and  thus  expedite  the  disposal  of  litigation. 

This  Court  has  original,  exclusive  jurisdiction  of  all  felonies  and  misdemean- 
ors, except  such  as  may  arise  in  the  justices'  courts  and  Mayor's  court;  and  appel- 
late jurisdiction  of  criminal  causes  arising  in  the  justices'  courts  and  Mayor's 
court. 

The  first  Judge  of  this  Court  was  Gen.  George  H.  Chapman,  who  was  succeeded 
in  1870  by  Byron  K.  Elliott,  the  present  Judge. 

MARION  COUNTY   COURT   OF   COMMON   PLEAS. 

This  Court  was  established  in  1852,  absorbing  the  Probate  Court,  which  had 
existed  from  the  early  history  of  the  county  up  to  that  time. 

The  recent  creation  of  the  Superior  Court,  has  relieved  the  Common  Pleas  of 
much  of  its  business,  and  will  probably  have  the  effect  to  make  the  latter  chiefly 
a  Probate  Court. 

Its  jurisdiction,  as  qualified  by  successive  statutes,  is,  in  brief,  as  follows : 

Exclusive  jurisdiction  of  all  probate  matters. 

Concurrent  jurisdiction  with  the  Civil  Circuit  and  Superior  Court  in  all  civil 
causes  except  actions  for  libel,  slander,  breach  of  marriage  contract,  and  those 
involving  title  to  real  estate. 

Appellate  jurisdiction  of  all  civil  causes  appealable  from  the  justices'  courts. 

The  Judges  of  this  Court  have  been :  Levi  L.  Todd,  David  Wallace,  John 
Coburn,  Charles  A.  Ray,  Solomon  Blair,  and  Livingston  Howland,  the  present 
Judge. 

JUSTICES'  COURTS. 

These  are  inferior  courts,  having  limited  jurisdiction  in  civil  and  criminal 
causes. 

Civil  jurisdiction  in  causes  where  judgments  are  confessed,  in  any  sum  not  ex- 


2QQ  HOLLO WArS  INDIA NA POLIS. 

ceeding  $300.     Tbey  may  try  any  action  where  the  amount  claimed  does  not  ex- 
ceed $200,  where  the  suit  is  founded  on  contiact  or  tort. 

Criminal  jurisdiction — Exclusive,  original  jurisdiction  where  the  fine  assessed 
cannot  exceed  $3.00;  concurrent  jurisdiction  with  the  Criminal  Court,  to  determine 
all  cases,  punishable  by  fine  only,  where  the  fine  may  not  exceed  $25;  and  prelim- 
inary jurisdiction  of  felonies  generally. 

CITY    COUKT. 

This  Court  is  coeval  with  the  incorporation  of  Indianapolis  as  a  city.  It  has 
exclusive  jurisdiction  of  violations  of  city  ordinaces,  and  preliminary  jurisdiction 
of  felonies. 

MUSICAL    SOCIETIES. 

The  capacities  of  the  musical  societies  and  of  the  musical  professionals  in.  a 
community,  form  a  good  measure  of  the  position  of  that  community  in  the  scale  of 
civilzation  and  refinement. 

A  comparison  of  results  attained  in  this  city,  shows  a  progress  in  musical  sci- 
ence commensurate  with  the  city's  material  progress: 

That  a  great  improvement  has  been  made  in  the  character  of  our  musical  com- 
positions, in  the  capacities  of  our  musical  organizations  for  vocal  and  instrumental 
execution,  in  the  qualifications  of  our  musical  teachers,  in  the  general  diffusion  of 
musical  knowledge,  in  the  patronage  accorded  the  higher  grades  of  musical  talent, 
are  facts  quite  evident  to  those  who  have  taken  an  interest  in  these  subjects  during 
the  past  few  years. 

The  first  musical  society  of  any  prominence  in  this  city,  of  which  any  record 
is  preserved,  was  organized  about  the  year  1850.  Mr.  A.  G.  Willard  was  its  leader, 
and  Professor  P.  R.  Pearsoll  (a  musical  pioneer  of  the  city,  but  who  has  kept 
even  pace  with,  and.  often  in  advance  of,  musical  progress,  and  who  might  be 
termed  the  Nestor  of  our  home  musicians),  principal  musician.  Among  its  mem- 
bers were.  Mr.  John  L.  Ketcham,  Mr.  Davidson,  Mrs.  Dr.  Ackley,  and  other  well 
known  names  of  the  past  and  present  days  of  Indianapolis.  This  society  was  short 
lived. 

Other  societies,  neither  comprehensive  in  their  objects  nor  animated  by  the 
conditions  favorable  to  longevity  or  success,  were  formed,  lived  their  brief  periods, 
and  were  disorganized. 

In  1863,  the  Musicale,  a  select  society,  composed  only  of  musical  experts,  was 
organized,  with  Mr.  J.  A.  Butterfield  as  leader.  The  meetings  were  held  in  the 
parlors  of  some  of  the  members,  among  whom  were  Mrs.  John  W.  Ray,  Mrs.  Hoi- 
comb,  Mr.  R.  R.  Parker  and  Mr.  A.  M.  Benham.  This  society  was  devoted  to  clas- 
sical music  only,  and  appeared  in  public  but  once  during  its  organization,  which 
lasted  two  years. 

In  the  summer  of  1864,  Professor  Benjamin  Owen  came  to  this  city,  and  soon 
gathered  together  a  large  number  of  pupils  in  vocal  music;  whom,  with  the  ama- 
teur musicians  of  this  city,  he  organized  into  a  class,  of  which  he  which  he  was  the 
leader  and  pianist.  This  organization  was  largely  efficient  in  educating  the  public 
taste  as  to  music ;  their  public  appearances  were  frequent;  they  successfully  essayed 
difficult  selections  from  the  great  masters.  Among  the  prominent  solo  singers  of 
this  society  were  Miss  Croft  (now  Mrs.  A.  M.  Benham),  Miss  Amelia  Heinrichs, 
Mrs.  Dora  Patterson  Swift  (since  deceased),  Miss  Helen  M.  Dodge,  Mr.  L.  D.  Golds- 
berry,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Owen,  and  many  others  whose  names  do  not  now  occur  to 


MUSICAL  SOCIETIES. 

the  writer.  The  period  of  the  existence  of  this  society  was  about  three  years,  when 
it,  too,  yielded  to  the  common  lot. 

The  next  considerable  musical  society  in  this  city,  was  the  Mendelssohn  Society, 
which  was  organized  at  Benham's  music  store,  on  the  23d  of  September,  1867.  Its 
officers  were:  W.  H.  Churchman,  President;  General  Daniel  Macauley,  Vice 
President;  C.  P.  Jacobs,  Secretary;  Thoa.  N.  Caulfield,  Director.  The  sessions  were 
held  at  the  Institute  for  the  Blind.  Mr.  Caulfleld  was  the  conductor  until  his 
removal  from  this  city  in  1868,  when  Professor  Bergstein  was  elected  leader,  which 
position  he  filled  until  the  society  was  discontinued,  in  1870.  This  organization 
was  by  no  means  in  vain.  Its  members  studied  good  music  and  attained  superior 
excellence  in  execution,  and  certainly  contributed  materially  to  the  cause  of  mu- 
sical culture. 

This  necessarily  brief  and  imperfect  record  of  our  past  musical  history,  brings 
us  up  to  the  organization  of  existing  musical  societies. 

Before  dismissing  these  general  observations,  it  may  be  worthy  of  mention, 
that  the  first  pianos  offered  for  sale  in  this  city  were  manufactured  by  T.  Gilbert, 
of  Boston,  and  consigned  to  the  Rev.  Charles  Beecher,  in  1844'.  Some  of  these 
instruments  are  still  in  use,  and  present  a  picturesque  contrast  with  the  improved 
pianos  of  to-day.  The  first  piano  brought  to  this  city  was  the  one  still  in  the  pos- 
session of  Mrs,  James  Blake. 

THE   MAENNERCHOB. 

The  Indianapolis  Maennerchor,  in  respect  of  its  age,  prominence,  and  musical 
capabilities,  is  the  chief  German  singing  society  of  this  city.  It  was  founded  in 
1&54.  Its  first  leader  was  E.  Longerich,  who  was  succeeded  by  A.  Despa;  he  by 
C.  J.  Kantman ;  he  by  Professor  C.  H.  Weegman,  and  he  by  Professor  Carl  Berg- 
stein,  the  present  leader.  In  the  great  National  Saengerfest  held  here  in  1867,  the 
Indiananolis  Maennerchor  was  the  inviting  society  and  the  directing  one.  The 
net  proceeds  of  that  festival  aggregated  $2,500;  all  of  which  was  donated  for  the 
benefit  of  the  German-English  School,  of  the  Indianapolis  Benevolent  Society, 
and  of  the  German  Benevolent  Society  of  this  city. 

The  Maennerchor  now  numbers  about  sixty  active  members,  of  whom  about 
twenty-five  are  ladies;  and  three  hundred  honorary  members. 

In  addition  to  the  occasional  public  appearances  of  the  Maennerehor,  its  mem- 
bers hold  a  "Social"  once  each  month,  during  the  winter  season,  on  which  occa- 
sions fine  vocal  and  instrumental  concert  programmes  are  performed,  and  the  best 
and  most  difficult  compositions  are  excellently  rendered.  Recently  the  society 
has  leased  the  entire  Turner-Hall  building,  where  its  meetings  for  the  transaction 
of  business,  rehearsals,  and  practice,  are  held. 

THE   HARMONIE, 

A  German  singing  society,  was  organized  on  the  1st.  of  October,  1869,  and  is- 
the  result  of  a  consolidation  of  three  former  German  societies  of  this  city,  the 
Liederkranz,  the  Harmonia  and  the  Frohtinn.  These  three  societies  joined  together, 
under  the  direction  of  Professor  Bergstein,  in  September,  1869,  to  celebrate  the 
Humboldt  centennial. 

The  temporary  union  of  these  societies  was  followed  by  their  permanent  con- 
solidation, under  the  name  of  Harmonic,  on  the  date  above  mentioned.  This  union  f 
suggested,  and  in  a  great  measure  secured,  by  Professor  Bergstein,  made  the  Har- 


268  HOLLO  WAT'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

monie  a  very  large  society.  Its  objects  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Xaennerchor,  and 
its  organization  also,  save  that  ladies  are  not  admitted  as  members,  as  in  the  Maen- 
nerchor. 

The  members  meet  twice  a  week,  in  Marmont's  Hall,  for  rehearsals  and  practice. 

The  President  of  the  society  is  Henry  Elft,  and  the  Director  C.  B.  Lizius. 
The  number  of  active  members  is  forty-five. 

THE    DRUID    MAENNERCHOB. 

This  German  singing  society  was  founded  in  1868.  As  its  name  implies,  none 
but  Druids  can  be  admitted  to  membership,  and  it  has  no  lady  members.  In  other 
respects,  its  organization  and  character  are  similar  to  the  Maennerchor  society  ; 
but,  being  much  younger  than  the  latter,  it  has  not  attained  to  the  prominence  or 
skill  of  that  organization. 

Its  meetings  for  the  transaction  of  business,  rehearsal,  practice,  and  so  forth, 
are  held  twice  each  week,  in  Mozart  Hall. 

It  has  about  one  hundred  members,  of  whom  thirty-two  are  on  the  active  or 
singing  list.  The  President  is  Philip  Reichwein ;  and  the  Director,  Professor  August 
Mueller. 

THE   CHORAL   UNION. 

This  is  a  select  society,  having  for  its  objects  mutual  progress  in  musical  cul- 
ture and  the  advancement  of  musical  science  in  this  city.  It  is  composed  chiefly 
of  amateurs,  directed  and  leavened  by  skill  and  trained  talent.  It  numbers  many 
of  the  best  amateur  singers  in  the  city. 

The  Union  was  projected  and  has  been  sustained  by  certain  enterprising  citi- 
zens, in  the  hope  of  making  it  a  fitting  musical  exponent  of  the  city  of  Indian- 
apolis. 

Need  often  arises,  in  a  city  of  this  size,  for  the  services  of  a  musical  organiza- 
tion capable  of  rendering  the  better  and  more  difficult  musical  productions,  and  this 
desideratum  is  is  now  found  in  the  Choral  Union.  From  its  large  membership  and 
its  abundant  practice  and  competent  training,  the  organization  appears  to  partic- 
ular advantage  in  choruses,  while  it  also  embraces  a  good  proportion  of  singers 
of  marked  and  peculiar  excellence  for  solos  and  concerted  pieces.  The  recent 
public  appearances  of  the  Union  attest  the  great  capabilities  and  promise  of  this 
organization.  The  society  has  already  accumulated  a  large  musical  library.  The 
Union  is  not  devoted  to  vocal  music  alone,  but  embraces  an  orchestra  also.  The 
number  of  members  is  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five. 

The  officers  are:  M.  R.  Barnard,  President;  Wm.  C.  Smock,  Secretary;  Prof. 
J.  S.  Blaek,  Director;  E.  C.  Mayhew  and  Prof.  G.  B.  Loomis,  Leaders. 

THE   PHILHARMONIC   ORCHESTRA. 

This  organization  is  composed  of  a  number  of  the  more  proficient  amateurs  of 
this  city.  It  contains  the  elements  and  capabilities  of  a  first  class  orchestra.  The 
members  meet  once  each  week  for  study  and  practice.  The  field  of  their  study  and 
practice  is  classical  music,  as  opposed  to  the  wish-washy  and  tasteless  productions 
which  are  thrown  upon  the  market  in  such  lavish  abundance,  and  find  multitudes 
of  interpreters  and  patrons.  The  leader  and  conductor  is  Dr.  K.  A,  Barnes. 


PUBLIC  LIBRABrES. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 

Benbam's  Musical  Review  (a  handsome  and  well  edited  monthly  periodical  of 
twenty-four  pages),  now  in  the  sixth  year  of  its  publication,  must  be  reckoned 
prominently  among  the  agencies  that  have  done  much  to  organize  and  develop 
our  musical  talent,  and  advance  musical  intei-ests  in  this  city.  Its  pages  embrace 
each  month  much  valuable  original  and  selected  matter,  correspondence,  musical 
compositions,  etc.  Its  list  of  contributors  comprises  some  first  class  talent,  in  this 
country  and  in  Europe,  whose  contributions  are  frequently  widely  reprinted. 

The  Musical  Visitor,  a  monthly  periodical  of  twenty  pages,  published  by  A. 
G.  Willard  &  Co.,  yet  in  the  first  year  of  its  publication,  is  also  growing  into 
deserved  favor  and  consequence. 

Within  the  past  three  or  four  years  Professor  J.  S.  Black,  as  an  instructed  of 
vocal  music,  has  done  much  to  inspire  greatly  increased  interest  in  musical  culture. 

Among  other  prominent  instructors  are  Professors  Bergstein,  Reitz,  Leckner 
and  Pearson. 

PUBLIC    LIBRARIES. 

The  State  Library  was  called  into  existence  by  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly 
in  1843.  It  was  created  and  is  maintainedby  Legislative  appropriations.  Includ- 
ing battle-flags,  war  relics,  and  so  forth,  the  Library  occupies  the  entire  west  half 
of  the  first  story  of  the  State  Capitol. 

The  present  number  of  volumes,  of  all  descriptions,  is  about  twenty-fiva  thou- 
sand :  of  which  ten  thousand  are  literary  and  miscellaneous  works;  seven  thousand, 
public  laws  and  documents;  two  thousand,  bound  volumes  of  newspapers  and  peri- 
odicals; four  thousand,  duplicate  volume*  of  public  laws  and  documents;  and  two 
thousand,  pamphlets  and  unbound  documents. 

The  Library  is  in  charge  of  the  State  Librarian,  who  is  elected  biennially  by 
the  General  Assembly.  The  following  have  been  the  Librarians:  Samuel  P.  Dan- 
iels, to  1844;  John  B.  Dillon,  1844  to  1851;  Nathaniel  Bolton,  1851  to  1853; 
Gordon  Tanner,  1853  to  1857;  James  B.  Bryant,  1857  to  1859;  James  Lyon,  1859 
to  1861 ;  Deloss  Brown,  1861  to  1863;  David  Stevenson,  1863  to  1865;  Benjamin 
F.  Foster,  1865  to  1869;  M.  G.  McLain,  1869  to  1871;  and  James  De  Sanno,  the 
present  Librarian. 

For  the  support  of  the  Library,  and  for  meeting  the  expenses  incident  to  its  main- 
tenance, there  is  a  standing  appropriation  of  $400  per  annum,  and  a  yearly  specific 
appropriation  of  $1,000.  These  amounts  do  not  admit  of  extensive  additions  to 
the  Library;  and  to  make  it  all  it  should  bu,  in  respect  of  the  literary  and  scientific 
collection,  larger  appropriations  are  requisite. 

THE   INDIANAPOLIS   LIBRARY. 

The  city  is  yet  without  a  general  circulating  Library.  The  want  of  such  a 
Library  has  led,  in  past  years,  to  the  inception  of  a  number  of  unsuccessful  move- 
ments looking  to  that  result.  As  a  preliminary  movement  to  this  end,  in  March, 
1869,  one  hundred  citizens  organized,  under  the  style  of  the  Indianapolis  Library 
Association.  The  conditions  of  membership  were,  and  are,  a  subscription  for 
library  purposes  of  $150,  to  be  paid  in  annual  installments  of  $25;  thus  afford- 
ing an  annual  revenue  of  $2,500,  for  five  years,  for  the  maintenance  and  increase 
of  the  Library. 


270 


BOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 


The  Association  proceeded  with  promptness  to  carry  out  its  object.  Suitable 
rooms  were  secured  in  Martindale's  building,  north-east  corner  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Market  streets ;  and  the  paid  up  portion  of  the  subscriptions  have,  from  time 
to  time,  been  devoted  to  the  purchase  of  books  and  the  support  of  the  Library.  The 
management  of  the  enterprise  has  been  excellent,  and  the  funds  of  the  Association 
have  been  invested  to  the  best  possible  advantage.  Already  a  collection  of  about 
three  thousand  volumes  has  been  obtained;  which  number  will  be  increased 
during  the  present  spring  to  about  four  thousand  five  hundred;  and  it  may  justly 
be  said  that  a  better  selection  of  like  magnitude,  than  the  three  thousand  volumes 
now  on  the  shelves,  could  hardly  be  made.  For  the  present  the  privileges  of  the 
Library  are  restricted  to  members — those  who  subscribe  $150  to  the  Library  fund — 
and  to  such  others  as  may  be  allowed  the  use  of  the  books  by  the  payment  of  §5.00 
annually. 

This  limitation  of  the  use  of  the  books  to  subscribers  was,  and  is  yet,  mani- 
festly necessary  to  the  creation  of  a  Library  at  all;  and  it  has  been  the  intention 
from  the  first  to  convert  it  into  a  Public  Circulating  Library  as  soon  as  it  shall 
have  attained  a  suitable  magnitude  and  endowment. 

The  officers  of  the  Association  are:  John  D.  Rowland,  President;  William 
P.  Fishback,  Vice  President;  D.  W.  Grubbs,  Secretary;  William  S.  Hubbard, 
Treasurer. 

MARION    COUNTY    LIBRARY. 

This  Library  now  aumbors  about  two  thousand  volumes.  The  records  show 
the  first  meeting  of  the  first  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Library  to  have  been  held  in 
April,  1844.  The  Trustees  are  appointed  by  the  County  Commissioners.  The  first 
Board  consisted  of  D.  L.  McFarlin,  George  Bruce,  Henry  P.  Coburn,  John  Wilk- 
ins,  James  Sulgrove,  and  Livingston  Dunlap. 

The  present  Trustees  are  Powell  Rowland,  L.  M.  Phipps,  Charles  X.  Todd 
William  Hadley,  John  Duncan,  and  George  W.  Parker. 

The  interest  on  a  fund  of  $2,000  is  expended,  as  it  accrues,  in  the  purchase  of 
books,  &c. 

The  payment  of  a  small  sum  annually  entitles  any  citizen  of  the  county  to 
the  use  of  the  books. 

THE    TOWNSHIP    LIBRARY, 

Is  in  the  keeping  of  the  Township  Trustee,  whose  office  is  on  North  Delaware  street, 
opposite  the  Court  house. 

The  collection  is  an  indifferent  one,  numbering,  all  told,  about  one  thousand 
volumes;  and  the  appropriations  for  its  support  are  too  limited  to  admit  of  any 
considerable  additions. 

TELEGBAPH    COMPANIES. 

WESTERN   UNION   TELEGRAPH   COMPANY. 

Location  of  Indianapolis  Office:  In  Blackford's  Block,  south-east  corner  of 
Washington  and  Meridian  streets. 

The  first  Telegraph  office  in  this  city  was  opened  on  the  12th  of  May,  1848  — 
•an  office  of  the  CMto,  Indiana  and  Illinois  Telegraph  Company — better  known  as  the 


TELEGRAPH  COMPANIES.  271 

O'Riilly  line,  from  the  name  of  its  principal  owner,  Henry  O'Reilly,  one  of  the 
early  builders  of  telegraph  lines  in  this  country,  and  owner  of  the  right  to  con- 
struct lines  in  a  large  extent  of  western  territory,  purchased  from  S.  F.  B.  Morse, 
the  inventor  of  the  Electro  Magnetic  Telegraph. 

The  O'Reilly  line,  as  originally  constituted,  was  from  Dayton  to  Chicago,  and 
ante-dating  all  of  the  numerous' railways  diverging  from  this  city  at  the  present 
day,  was  built  along  ordinary  highways.  Richmond,  Indianapolis,  and  Lafayette 
were  the  intermediate  points  of  prominence  on  this  line.  A  branch  of  this  line 
extended  from  Lafayette  down  the  Wabash  river,  and  through  Terre  Hnute  to 
Evansville;  and  these  embraced  all  the  telegraphic  facilities  in  the  State  at  that 
time,  except  a  line  through  the  northern  counties,  from  Cleveland  to  Chicago. 

In  1853,  the  Cincinnati  J  St.  Louis  liae  was  built,  and  an  "opposition"  office  was 
opened  in  this  city. 

About  January,  1852,  the  "oppositioa"  line  had  been  sold  to  a  new  company, 
and  rechvistened  as  the  Wade  line. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  1853,  the  "opposition"  office  was  consolidated  with  the 
O'Reilly  office,  and  its  interests  were  merged  into  the  latter.  This  step  was  in  con- 
sequence of  the  light  receipts  of  the  offices;  'for  it  was  only  a  few  years  ago  that  the 
use  of  the  telegraph  was  a  comparative  rarity  when  contrasted  with  the  general 
and  extensive  use  of  that  agency  at  the  present  day.  The  consolidation  applied 
only  to  points  where  both  companies  had  been  maintaining  separate  offices. 

During  the  spring  of  1854,  the  Wade  company  constructed  a  new  line  from 
Cincinnati  to  St.  Louis,  via  the  Ohio  ^  Mississippi  Railway,  which  resulted  in  the 
discontinuance  of  that  company  s  line  between  the  same  points,  via  the  ordinary 
highways  through  this  city. 

The  next  line  built  was  from  Indianapolis  to  Union  City  (along  the  Bellefon- 
taine  Railway],  and  extended  from  the  latter  point  to  Dayton,  Ohio;  on  the  com- 
pletion of  which  the  line  along  the  ordinary  road,  between  Dayton  and  Indianap- 
olis via  Richmond,  was  discontinued. 

In  the  summer  of  1854,  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company  built  a  line  from 
Cincinnati  to  Indianapolis,  over  the  Indianapolis  $  Cincinnati  Railway,  and  main- 
tained a  separate  office  in  this  city  for  a  short  time.  About  the  first  of  October, 
1856,  the  office  of  the  Western  Union  and  O'Reilly  lines,  in  this  ci  y,  were  consoli- 
dated, giving  to  the  former  company  control  of  the  consolidated  interests,  with 
John  F.  Wallack)  the  present  district  superintendent)  0,3  manager.  The  Western 
Union  Telegraph  Company  now  operated  four  Hues:  one  to  Cincinnati;  one  to  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  via  Union  City;  one  to  Madison ;  and  the  old  line,  via  the  ordinary  road, 
from  here  to  Lafayette. 

In  1856,  was  inangurated  the  present  arrangement  between  the  Western  Union 
Telegraph  Company  and  the  Associate!  Press  of  Indianapolis,  in  regard  to  tele- 
graphic news  reports — an  arrangement  since  expanded  and  perfected;  existing  at 
nearly  every  point  in  this  country  where  daily  newspapers  are  published,  and  ena- 
bling the  latter  to  furnish  their  readers  with  the  news  of  the  day  in  all  parts  of 
the  New  and  Old  Worlds. 

It  will,  perhaps,  be  sufficient  to  give  an  idea  of  the  magnitude  of  this  business 
of  furnishing  "Press  Reports,"  to  state  that  the  transmission  of  these  reports  oc- 
cupy the  lines  almost  exclusively  from  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  till  from  one  to 
three  (as  a  rule')  on  the  next  morning.  The  aggregate  of  such  reports,  received  at 
and  sent  from  this  city,  is  now  about  eight  thousand  five  hundred  words  per  day, 


272  BOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

paid  for  at  lower  rates,  of  course,  than  ordinary  messages,  on  the  basis  of  contracts 
between  the  several  united  Press  associations  and  the  Telegraph  companies 

It  may  be  worthy  of  note,  in  this  connection,  to  state,  that  the  first  press  re- 
port sent  to  this  city  by  telegraph,  appears  to  have  been  in  the  month  of  Decem- 
ber, 1851,  according  to  an  entry  in  a  record  of  that  date,  charging  Wm.  J.  Brown 
(of  the  Sentinel)  §11,  on  account  of  services  in  telegraphing  the  President's  mes- 
sage (a  very  slight  abstract  or  statement  of  its  points,  evidently).  Henceforth  the 
growth  of  the  business  of  the  office  was  rapid,  and  new  lines  multiplied  as  new 
railroads  were  built. 

In  December,  1864,  tho  United  States  Telegraph  Company — an  association  that 
promised  at  one  time  to  be  a  strong  rival  of  the  Western  Union  Company — opened 
an  office  here;  but,  from  the  first,  the  policy  of  the  managers  of  the  Western  Union, 
has  been  that  of  absorbing  rival  enterprises;  and  so,  in  1866,  the  United  States  line 
shared  the  general  fate;  and  its  lines  here,  nine  in  number,  passed  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  Western  Union  Company.  • 

By  a  recent  re-division  of  the  Territory  of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Com- 
pany (which  operates  seven-eighths  of  all  the  lines  in  the  United  States,  and  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  lines  in  New  Brunswick  and  New  Foundland),  Mr.  -Wai- 
lick's  jurisdiction,  as  Superintendent  of  the  Sixth  District  of  the  Central  Division, 
comprises  the  lines  radiating  from  Indianapolis,  and  the  lines  intersecting  there- 
with, south  to  the  Ohio  river;  east  to  Columbus  and  Crestline,  Ohio;  west  to  Altom 
Illinois;  and  north  to  Chicago. 

The  number  of  Telegraph  offices  within  the  area  of  Mr.  Wallick's  district,  of 
which  Indianapolis  is  the  principal  office,  is  one  hundred  and  sixty;  with  two 
thousand  two  hundred  and  eighteen  miles  of  poles,  and  four  thousand  four  hundred 
and  fifty-eight  miles  of  wire.  In  the  main  office  in  this  city  twenty-nine  separate 
wires  are  worked. 

The  business  having  out  grown  the  accommodations  of  the  former  location  of 
the  office,  it  was  removed  in  1865  to  blackford's  Block,  south-east  corner  of  Meri- 
dian and  Washington  streets;  where  it  is  now  located,  and  occupies  four  rooms: 
one  in  the  basement,  called  the  "battery  room;"  one  on  the  ground  floor,  for  the 
business  office — where  messages  are  received  and  delivered;  one  on  the  second  floor, 
used  for  the  Superintendent's  office;  and  a  large  room  on  the  third  floor,  called  the 
"operating  room,"  containing  twenty-four  sets  of  the  best  instruments,  and  with 
superior  appointments  in  every  other  respect;  and  another  on  the  third  floor,  used 
as  a  "local  battery"  room. 

The  offices  in  this  city  operating  the  Western  Union  Company1  s  lines  are  as  fol- 
low: The  main  office  in  Blackford's  block,  and  auxiliary  offices  at  the  Union 
Depot,  at  the  rooms  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  and  at  each  of  the  railway  depots — 
about  eighteen  or  twenty  in  all. 

The  present  organization  of  the  office  is  as  follows:  John  F.  Wallack,  Dis- 
trict Superintendent;  C.  C.  Whitney,  Manager  of  the  main  office  in  Indianapolis  ; 
and  fifty-one  operators  and  other  employes,  including  those  at  the  branch  offices. 

It  is  an  instructive  commentary  on  the  progress  of  Indianapolis,  as  well  as  on 
the  increasing  patronage  of  the  Telegraph,  that  for  several  years  after  the  establish- 
ment of  the  first  office  in  this  city,  one  operator,  (without  the  assistance  of  even  a 
messenger),  had  no  hard  task  in  transacting  all  the  business,  besides  keeping  a  sec- 
tion of  the  line  in  repair;  while  about  fifty-six  persons  are  required  to  direct  and 
perform  the  business  of  to-day. 

The  growth  of  this  business  will  also  appear  by  the  following  exhibit  of  the 


EXPRESS  COMPANIES.  273 

annual  receipts  of  the  main  office  (exclusive  of  the  receipts  from  press  reports,  the 
extent  of  which  has  already  been  mentioned),  since  the  establishment  of  the  first 
office  in  Indianapolis:  1848,  $530.33;  1849,  $1,105.08 ;  1850,  $1,161.08;  1851, 
-$1,619.28;  1852,  $1,889.88;  1853,  $1,808.18;  1854,  $2,433  90 .  1855,  $2,788.47; 
1856,  $2,52404;  1857,  $4,29.38;  1858,  $33,855.18;  1859,  $4,078.72;  1860,  $5,202.61; 
1861,  $16,098.25;  1862,  $23,192.33;  1863,  $22,158.32 ;  1864,  $31,978.85;  1865,  $33,- 
418.31;  1866,  $26,981.51;  1867,  $23,916  75;  1868,  $29,037.59;  1869,  $24,854.47; 
1870,  $22,271.19. 

The  slight  reduction  of  the  receipts  for  the  past  year  from  those  of  several  pre- 
vious years,' is  on  account  of  the  extensive  employment  of  the  telegraph  for  mili- 
tary purposes  during  the  war— which  inflated  the  business  of  the  Telegraph  Com- 
pany, as  it  did  nearly  every  species  of  business. 

THE  TACIFIC   AND   ATLANTIC   TELEGRAPH   COMPANY. 

Location  of  the  Indianapolis  office:     No  21  South  Meridan  street. 

Op  the  15th  December,  1869,  the  Pacific  and  Atlantic  Telegraph  Company  opened 
an  office  at  No.  22  South  Meridian  street,  in  this  city,  with  E.  C.  Hewlett,  Esq., 
as  manager.  This  company  was  organized  as  an  opposition  to  the  Western  Union 
Company ;  and  has  thus  far  avoided  the  fate  of  previous  opposition  companies  in 
the  West:  which  have  been  either  absorbed  into  that  powerful  corporation,  or, 
after  a  while,  have  ceased  to  exist. 

The  usual  result  of  competition  has  followed  the  establishment  of  the  opposi- 
tion office  here:  a  large  reduction  (almost  66  per  cent.),  in  the  rates  of  telegraph- 
ing to  all  points  reached  by  the  lines  of  the  competing  companies. 

The  new  company  gives  every  external  evidence  of  a  good  degree  of  prosper- 
ity and  growth,  considering  its  youth  and  the  great  wealth  and  power  of  the  West- 
ern Union  company. 

The  lines  have  been  extended  as  rapidly  as  patronage  has  seemed  to  justify ; 
and  the  reduction  in  tolls  caused  by  the  establishment  of  competing  lines,  appears 
to  have  increased  the  volume  of  business  to  such  a  degree  as  to  sustain  a  healthy 
opposition  to  the  Western  Union  Company;  in  which  opposition  the  Pacific  and  At- 
lantic, the  Atlantic  and  Pacific,  and  the  Franklin  Companies  are  combined  and 
mutually  interested.  The  business  of  the  office  here  shows  a  favorable  improvement : 
the  receipts  for  the  month  of  December,  1870,  being  tenfold  those  of  the  corres- 
ponding month  in  1869.  The  office  now  employs  the  services  of  a  manager  and 
two  operators,  and  operates  wires  as  follows:  One  to  Pittsburgh,  two  to  Chicago, 
two  to  Dayton,  and  one  to  Cincinnati.  This  company  also  has  communication  with 
•"fit  Louis,  via  Chicago. 

On  the  1st  February,  1871,  a  fire  partially  destroyed  the  building  at  that  time 
occupied  by  the  office  of  this  company.  The  office  was  promptly  re-opened  at  No. 
21  South  Meridian  street,  its  present  location. 

EXPRESS   COMPANIES. 

The  increase  in  the  carrying  trade  by  express  companies,  at  this  point,  has 
been  in  proportion  to  the  multiplication  of  railways,  and,  consequently,  has  been 
very  great. 

The  Adams  Express  Company  was  the  first  to  open  an  office  here,  upon  the 
completion  of  the  Madison  Railway,  in  1847.    The  first  agent  of  the  company  was 
M.  M.  Landis,  Esq.    As  other  railway  lines  were  opened,  new  routes  were  also 
'opened  over  them. 
(18) 


274  HOL'LOWArS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  American  Express  Company's  office,  here,  was  established  in  1852. 

This  latter  event  resulted  in  a  division  of  territory,  as  follows:  the  Adami- 
having  routes  over  the  Bellcfontaine  and  Terre  Haute  &  Richmond  Railways,  and 
on  all  the  railway  lines  running  south  of  the  lines  named;  the  American  also  hav- 
ing routes  over  those  two  lines,  and  on  lines  running"  north  of  them. 

This  division  of  territory  remained  in  force  until  the  establishment  here  of  an 
office  of  the  United  States  Express  Company,  in  1354.  This  new  competitor  ac- 
quired a  portion  of  the  routes  previously  operated  by  the  American,  the  Adams  still 
retaining  all  of  the  territory  acquired  in  the  division  with  the  American. 

This  arrangement  remained  in  force  until  18156,  when  a  new  competitor,  the 
Merchants'  Union,  opened  an  office  here,  establishing  routes  over  such  lines  of  rail- 
ways as  granted  the  requisite  permission.  This  status  continued  about  two  years. 
Then,  to  prevent  unprofitable  competition,  the  several  companies  above  named 
made  a  new  division  of  territory.  By  this  arrangement  the  Adams  Express  Com- 
pany's office  here  disappeared  early  in  1868. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1868,  by  consolidation' of  the  two  companies,  the 
offices  and  business  of  the  American  and  Merchants'  Union  Express  Companies,  at 
this  place,  were  united. 

By  virtue  of  a  new  arrangement  between  the  companies,  the  office  of  the 
Adams  Company  was  reopened  March  12th,  1870.  As  a  result  of  the  previous  ar- 
rangements, above  noted,  the  business  of  the  Adams  has  been  very  much  dimin- 
ished, and  restricted  to  fewer  routes  than  formerly;  for  which  concessions  here, 
corresponding  advantages  were  gained  elsewhere. 

The  present  division  of  territory  is  as  follows  : 

The  American  has  exclusive  routes  on  the  Indianapolis,  Cincinnati  &  Layfay- 
ette  Rail  way;  the  Martinsville;  the  Jeffersonville,  Madison  &  Indianapolis  ;  the 
-Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis;  the  St.  Louis,  Vandalia,  Terre  Haute  &  Indianapolis  ; 
the  Louisville,  New  Albany  &  Chicago  (north  of  Greencastle);  The  Evansville  & 
Crawfordsville  (north  of  Terre  Haute);  the  Evansville,  Terre  Haute  &  Chicago 
(north  of  Terre  Haute);  the  Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati  &  St.  Louis  (from  Indianapolis 
to  Dayton);  the  Chicago  and  Great  Eastern  (from  Richmond  to  Chicago). 

The  United  States  has  exclusive  routes  over  the  Cincinnati  &  Indianapolis  Junc- 
tion Railway;  the  Indianapolis,  Peru  &  Chicago;  the  Indianapolis,  Bloomington  & 
Western;  the  Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati  &  St.  Louis  (from  Richmond  to  Columbus); 
the  Cleveland,  Columbus,  Cincinnati  &  Indianapolis  (from  Indianapolis  to  Crest- 
line): and  the  White  Water  Valley  of  the  I.,  C.  &  L. 

The  Adams  has  exclusive  routes  over  the  Indianapolis  &  Vincennes  Railway  ; 
the  Louisville,  New  Albany  &  Chicago  (south  of  Greencastle);  the  Evansville  & 
Crawfordsville  (south  of  Terre  Haute).  This  company  has  also  the  right  to  do 
through  business  over  the  eastern  lines  leading  from  this  city. 

The  earnings  of  the  Indianapolis  offices  of  the  several  companies,  last  year, 
were  as  follows: 

American  Merchants'  Union $100,335  00 

United  States 46,600  00 

Adams  (est.) ' 25,000  00 

Total §171,935  00 

Number  of  employees:  American  Merchants'  Union  and  United  .States,  80; 
Adams,  T. 


AGRICULTURE.  275 

The  offices  are  located  as  follows:  American  Merchants'  Union  and  United 
States,  J.  A.  Butterfield,  Agent,  north-west  corner  of  Meridian  and  Maryland  streets  . 
Adams,  John  H.  Ohr,  Agent,  No.  17  North  Meridian  street. 

AGRICULTURE. 

INDIANA   STATE   BOAKD   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

Indianapolis,  as  the  Capital,  from  its  central  situation,  and  as  the  commercial 
metropolis  of  the  State,  is  so  identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of  Indiana, 
that  a  sketch  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  is  proper  in  this  volume,  i 

The  Indiana  State  Board  of  Agriculture  was  organized  by  a  special  act  of  the 
Legislature,  entitled  "An  act  for  the  Eacouragement  of  Agriculture,"  approved 
February  the  14th,  1851.  • 

In  this  act  we  find,  as  incorporate  members  of  the  Board,  the  names  of  such 
prominent  men  as  Gov.  Jos.  A.  Wright,  Dr.  A.  C.  Stevenson,  Putnam  county;  Gen. 
Joseph  Orr,  Laporte  county;  David  P.  Holloway,  Wayne  county;  Geo.  P.  Lane, 
Dearborn  county;  and  others  who  have  taken  conspicuous  parts  in  matters  apper- 
taining to  the  general  advancement  of  agriculture  and  manufacturing  interests  in 
Indiana. 

Prior  to  the  passage  of  this  act,  and  in  no  small  degree  instrumental  in  se- 
curing its  passage,  societies  for  the  promotion  of  agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts 
had  been  formed,  by  individual  enterprise,  in  a  few  of  the  counties.  Of  these  the 
most  noteworthy  were  those  in  Wayne  and  Marion  counties;  the  former,  attribu- 
table to  the  efforts  of  Gen.  Sol.  Meredith,  W.  T.  Dennis,  David  P.  Holloway,  J.  M. 
Garr,  and  others;  the  latter,  to  the  efforts  of  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  Wm.  S. 
Hubbard,  Dr.  G.  W.  Mears,  and  others. 

Through  this  means  a  stimulus  was  given  to  agriculture  and  manufacturing  in 
Indiana,  and  especially  to  the  latter  at  this  point,  that  in  all  reasonable  proba- 
bility, in  the  absence  of  this  legislative  enactment,  would  not  have  been  attained 
for  many  years  to  corne. 

The  State  Board  was  industrious  and  efficient.  Dr.  A.  C.  Stevenson,  of  Putnam 
county,  visited  England  while  a  member  of  the  Board,  and  brought  home  numerous 
specimens  of  the  finest  short-horns.  In  eastern  Indiana,  more  particularly,  are  the 
fruits  of  these  instrumentalities  conspicuously  apparent.  General  Meredith,  George 
Davidson,  and  others,  of  Wayne  county,  and  Hon.  I.  D.  G.  Nelson,  of  Allen  county, 
soon  followed  in  this  line  of  progress,  until  the  ambition  to  offer  first  class  products 
in  the  markets  of  the  East  from  Indiana,  became  general;  and  whatever  credit 
may  have  attached  to  Indiana  in  this  regard  is,  in  the  main,  directly  traceable  to 
this  Act  of  our  Legislature  and  the  efforts  made  by  our  Board  of  Agriculture. 

The  following  have  been  Presidents  of  the  Board :  Gov.  Joseph  A.  Wright, 
Gen.  Joseph  Orr,  Dr.  A.  C.  Stevenson,  Gen  Geo.  D.  Wagner,  Hon.  D.  P.  Holloway, 
Maj.  Stearns  Fisher,  Hon.  A.  D.  Hamrick,  and  Hon.  Jas.  D.  Williams,  present  incum- 
bent. The  following  have  been  Secretaries :  John  B.  Dillon,  William  T.  Denniss . 
Ignatius  Brown,  W.  H.  Loomis,  A.  J.  Holmes,  Hon.  Fielding  Beeler,  and  Jos.  Poole 
present  incumbent. 

The  Eighteenth  Annual  State  Fair,  under  the  auspices  of  the  State  Board,  was 
held  in  October,  1870.  The  First  was  held  on  the  site  of  the  present  western  City 
Park,  October  28th,  1852.  The  State  Board  have  paid  in  premiums  more  than  one 
hundred  and  thirty  thousand  dollars  at  these  several  Fairs.  But  the  amount  ex- 


276  HOLLOWATTS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

pended  in  premiums  is  a  very  small  portion  of  the  great  assistance  agricultural 
interests  in  Indiana  have  received  by  ihe  law  to  which  we  have  referred.  For  it 
not  only  brought  into  existence  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  but  we  find  that 
in  the  brief  period  of  five  years  (1857),  sixty-eight  County  Societies  had  been  or- 
ganized under  and  by  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

February  17th,  1852,  the  first  or  original  act  was  amended,  allowing  County 
Societies  to  draw  from  the  county  treasuries  certain  funds  arising  from  licenses  to 
menageries,  &c.;  and  subsequently  the  Legislature  passed  laws  empowering  the 
State  Board  of  Agriculture  and  County  and  District  Societies  to  purchase  and  hold 
real  estate. 

In  1864  W.  H.  Loomis,  then  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture,  was  mainly 
instrumental  in  securing  the  passage  of  an  act  exempting  Fair  Ground  property 
from  taxation,  and  directing  County  Treasurers  to  refund  taxes  paid  on  real  estate 
so  held. 

It  is  dne  to  Mr.  Loomis,  in  passing,  to  state  he  has  been  something  more  than 
merely  an  efficient  officer  in  the  Board.  His  zeal  and  interest  in  securing  the 
highest  usefulness  of  that  organization,  have  been  extraordinary  and  efficacious : 
and  for  many  years  he  has  been  a  valuable  aid  to  agricultural  progress  in  Indiana. 

The  supreme  efforts  of  the  State  in  aid  of  subduing  the  Kebellion  absorbed 
the  attention  of  Legislatures  and  people,  agricultural  progress  was  retarded  in 
consequence,  and  very  many  local  Agricultural  Societies  were  discontinued.  Sub- 
sequently the  attention  of  the  pub'ic  returned  to  the  arts  of  peace;  and  agriculture 
reasserted  its  high  claims  upon  the  attention  of  the  authorities. 

Previous  enactments  having  been  found  defective,  the  Legislature  enacted  a 
law  authorizing  "Joint  Stock  Associations  for  the  promotion  of  Agricultural, 
Mechanical,  Mining  and  other  industrial  pursuits."  Under  this  latter  law  many 
contiguous  counties  in  various  portions  of  the  State,  have  united  and  organized 
"Joint  Stock  Associations,''  have  purchased  fine  grounds,  pay  larger  premiums 
than  the  old  societies,  and  have  proved  more  useful  to  the  advancement  of  home 
industry  than  the  older  organizations. 

To  the  success  of  all  laudable  efforts  in  the  promotion  of  these  enterprises, 
whether  under  the  auspices  of  our  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  or  of  Joint  Stock, 
County,  or  District  Associations,  the  Capital  has  contributed  liberally.  State  Fairs — 
like  any  other  public  gatherings  that  assemble  at  Indianapolis — while  they  may,  and 
do,  bring  profit  to  its  tradesmen  and  patronage  to  its  hotels,  are,  nevertheless, 
proportionally  beneficial  to  the  State  at  large;  and  the  Capital  has  not  been  the 
recipient  of  any  undue  share  of  the  benefits  growing  out  of  these  enterprises. 
While  the  State  has  appropriated  $37,752.71  for  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
-since  its  organization,  in  1851;  the  citizens  of  Indianapolis  have  contributed  to 
the  Board  $28,946.95,  in  addition  to  their  proportion  of  legislative  appropriations. 
Thirteen  of  the  eighteen  annual  exhibitions  of  the  State  Board  have  been  held  at 
this  city;  and  of  these  but  one  was,  in  any  sense,  a  failure. 

.  This  exception  was  the  exhibition  of  1860,  one  of  the  finest  displays  made  at 
any  of  the  whole  series,  but  called  a  "failure."  financially,  because  at  its  conclu- 
sion the  Board  found  itself  several  thousand  dollars  in  debt.  But  inasmuch  as  it 
was  the  first  exhibition  held  in  the  new  Fair  Ground.  (Camp  Morton  having  just 
been  purchased  by  the  Board  for  that  purpose),  on  which  large  sums  had  been 
expended  by  way  of  improvements,  the  Fair  could  not  justly  be  called  a  failure, 
because  its  receipts  were  unequal  to  such  extraordinary  expenses. 

On  the  contrary,  all  but  one  (that  at  Terre  Haute),  of  the  five  Fairs  held  at 


AGRICULTURE.  277 

other  points,  in  the  State,  were  financial  failures,  because  of  their  unfavorable  loca- 
tions for  a  general  attendance  from  all  sections  of  the  State. 

By  excellent  management  the  debt  of  the  Board  has  since  been  extinguished. 

The  Fair  Grounds,  situated  in  the  northern  suburb  of  the  city,  consist  of 
thirty-six  acres;  of  which  thirty  acres  were  purchased  by  the  railway  companies,  and 
the  remainder  by  the  State  Board.  These  grounds  are  excellently  adapted  to  the 
purpose,  and  possess  all  the  requsite  improvements  for  the  convenience  of  exibitors 
and  visitors. 

THE  INDIANAPOLIS   AGRICULTURAL   AND  MKCHANICAL   ASSOCIATION. 

In  the  year  1870  a  Joint  Stoclf  Association  with  the  above  title  was  formed  in 
this  city,  for  the  encouragement  of  Agriculture,  the  Mechanic  Arts,  and  Stock- 
growing.  The  first  Board  of  Directors,  elected  on  the  28th  of  March,  1870,  was 
composed  of  Lewis  W.  Hasselman,  E.  S.  Alvord,  Hon.  Fielding  Beeler,  John  Fish- 
back,  Richard  J.  Bright,  John  T.  Francis,  W.  C.  Holmes,  Jos.  D.  Patterson,  and 
Hon.  T.  B.  McCarty. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  they  elected  the  following  offi- 
cers: 

President,  Lewis  W.  Hasselman;  Vice  President,  E.  S.  Alvord;  Treasurer,  E. 
J.  Rowland;  General  Superintendent,  John  B.  Sullivan;  Secretary,  J.  George 
Stilz ;  Assistant  Secretary,  William  H  Loomis.  The  latter  gentleman,  until  his 
recent  removal  to  Colorodo,  performed  all  the  active  duties  pertaining  to  the  office 
of  Secretary. 

The  Association  held  its  first  exhibition — and  a  very  creditable  one — on  the 
State  Fair  Grounds,  last  September;  at  which  more  than  $14,000  in  premiums  was 
awarded  and  paid.  Owing  to  the  value  of  the  premiums  thus  paid,  to  the  fact  that 
this  was  the  Association's  first  exhibition,  and  to  the  erroneous  impression  prevail- 
ing throughout  the  State  that  it  was  merely  a  local  exhibition,  the  attendance  was 
disproportionate  to  the  merits  of  the  Fair. 

So  far  as  the  display  was  concerned,  it  was  incontestibly  a  great  success;  and 
in  live  stock  and  manufactures,  it  "was  preeminently  so.  The  merits  of  this  initial 
exhibition,  and  the  liberal  award  of  premiums,  if  not  at  the  time  remunerative,  have 
given  the  Association  a  wide-spread  popularity,  and  will  insure  adequate  attend- 
ance upon  its  future  exhibitions. 

Though  the  first  exhibition  resulted  in  a  loss  of  several  thousand  dollars,  for 
the  reasons  stated,  the  Association  is  confident  of  future  success,  and  is  determined 
to  deserve  it.  Its  officers  and  principal  stockholders  have  the  requisite  enterprise, 
public  spirit  and  financial  ability  to  successfully  conduct  a  much  graver  undertak- 
ing. 

At  the  second  annual  meeting  of  Stockholders,  held  at  their  office  in  the  Indi- 
anapolis Board  of  Trade  Room,  March  28th,  1871,  the  following  gentlemen  were 
elected  a  Board  of  Directors  :  John  Fishback,  Indianapolis ;  Col.  Wm.  M.  Wheatly, 
Indianapolis;  Gen.  Sol.  Meredith,  Cambridge  City;  Owen  Tuller,  Terre  Haute; 
Hon.  Fielding  Beeler,  Indianapolis ;  John  T.  Francis,  Indianapolis ;  Wm.  C.  Smock, 
Indianapolis;  Eli  Heiny,  Indianapolis;  John  H.  Kenyon,  Indianapolis. 

The  following  officers  were  elected  for  the  current  year:  President,  John 
Fishback ;  Vice  President,  Col.  Wm.  M.  Wheatley ;  Treasurer,  Joseph  R.  Haugh ; 
Secretary,  Wra.  H.  Loomis*;  Superintendent,  Elisha  J.  Rowland. 

*Sin  ce  appointed  Register  of  the  Land  Office  at  Fair  Play,  Colorado ;  whither  he  has  removed. 


278  HOLLOWATS  1KDIANAPOLIS. 

At  this  meeting  steps  were  taken  to  purchase  suitable  grounds  for  the  use  of 
the  Society,  and  eighty-six  acres,  directly  south  of  the  city,  on  the  line  of  the  Jef- 
fersonville  and  Indianapolis  Railroad,  two  miles  from  the  center  of  the  city,  at  the 
southern  terminus  of  East  street,  were  subsequently  secured.  The  grounds  are 
abundantly  supplied  with  clear,  perpetually  running  water,  and  abundance  of  shade. 

The  capital  slock  of  the  Assocation  has  been  increased  to  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars;  thus  making  it  an  easy  matter  for  the  Society  to  improve  their 
grounds  in  a  substantial  manner,  by  the  building  of  permanent  halls  for  the  exhi- 
bition of  machinery  and  manufactured  articles  of  all  kinds,  of  stalls  for  live  stock, 
and  by  putting  into  proper  condition  a  fine  one-mile  time-track  for  the  exhibition 

of  horses. 

~  iB^v 

MISCELLANEOUS    SOCIETIES. 

THE    INDIANAPOLIS    TTJRN-VEREIN. 

The  society  of  the  Indianapolis  Turn-  Verein  was  organized  on  the  31st  Decem- 
ber, 1864,  with  the  following  members:  John  F.  Mayer,  Fred.  Steffens,  Charles 
Hoehne,  F.  Erdelmeyer,  C.  Koster,  P.  Lieber,  J.  Blosh,  H.  Hartung,  F.  Balweg,  T. 
Moesch,  L.  Maas,  E.  J.  Metzger,  P.  Kretsch,  C.  Steffens,  B.  Bannwarth. 

The  objects  of  the  Association,  stated  briefly,  are  the  mental  and  physical  im- 
provement of  the  members.  -Stated  more  fully,  they  were  originally  meant  to 
embrace  a  wide  field  of  intellectual  exercises,  as  well  as  theoretical  and  practical 
.gymnastics;  slated  meetings  for  hearing  lectures  on  all  subjects  of  human  thought; 
literary  and  gymnastic  exercises  by  the  members;  and  methodical  instruction,  intel- 
lectual as  well  as  physical. 

This  comprehensive  programme,  never  fully  carried  out,  is  less  than  ever 
adhered  to  at  the  present  time.  In  fact,  beyond  the  gymnastic  exercises  of  the 
youth,  and  the  exhibitions  of  skill  therein  by  them,  the  society  is  chiefly  social  in 
character. 

The  Hall  is  furnished  wiih  the  requisite  appliances,  for  gymnastic  exercises ; 
in  which  a  high  degree  of  skill  has  been  attained  by  many  of  the  German  youth. 

Occasionally,  at  public  entertainments,  festivals4  etc.,  the  members  give  exhi- 
bitions of  their  proficiency  in  the  performance  of  difficult  gymnastic  feats;  illus- 
trating that  the  organization  has  been  and  is  a  success  in  respect  of  at  least  one  of 
its  objects, — that  of  physical  improvement. 

To  have  succeeded  so  well  in  this  particular  more  than  justifies  the  establish- 
ment and  maintenance  of  the  society;  for  an  organization  that  has  been  so  effect- 
ive in  conducing  to  good  health  and  vigorous  and  muscular  bodies,  which  invites 
so  successfully  the  youth  to  spend  their  leisure  time  for  the  benefit  of  their  health, 
instead  of  in  idle  and  dissolute  ways,  is  certainly  a  beneficent  and  commendable 
organization. 

The  Indianapolis  Turn-Verein  belongs  to  the  American  Alliance  of  Turners 
(the  Turner-Bund),  and  subscribes  to  the  platform  of  the  latter. 

The  society  numbers  about  fifty  members,  and  occupies  the  first  story  of  the 
Turn- Halle  building. 

The  present  officers  are:  Adolph  Frey,  First  Speaker  (President);  Adolph 
Bauer,  Second  Speaker  (Vice  President) ;  Paul  Kraus.;,  First  Turnwart  (Director 
of  Gymnastic  Exercises);  F.  W.  Wachs,  Second  Turnwart;  F.  Rassfeld,  Recording 
Secretary;  J.  Martin,  Corresponding  Secretary ;  F.  Wenzel,  Treasurer;  C.  Frische, 


XrSGELLANEOUS  SOCIETIES. 

Zmgwart  (Keeper  of  the  Arms,  &c.);  C.  Krauss,  Librarian;  J.  Hunter,*'  Charles 
•Steffens,  and  Louis  Maas,  Trustees. 

.THE   SOCIAL   TURN-VEREIN, 

Political  differences  in  the  Indianapolis  Turn-Verein  resulted  in  a  schism  ;  a 
number  of  the  members  withdrawing  and  organizing  an  independent  society  called 
the  Social  Turn-  Verein,  on  the  18th  July,  1866.  This  independent  organization  is 
devoted,  as  its  name  implies,  to  social  and  gymnastic  cultivation  ;  and  forbids  the 
introduction  of  the  discordant  elements  of  sectarianism  or  party  creeds  into  its 
councils  and  proceedings.  It  is  fashioned,  in  its  objects  and  methods,  after  the  re- 
.gular  organization  from  which  it  withdrew ;  but,  refusing  to  comply  with  the  con- 
stitution of  the  National  Alliance,  in  the  respect  of  according  support  to  political 
parties  according  to  the  measure  of  their  advocacy  of  liberty  and  progress,  it  is 
not  recognized  by  the  American  Turn-Bund.  It  has  not,  as  yet,  attained  to  the 
prominence  and  influence  of  the  Indianapolis  Turn-  Verein,  although  it  now  enjoys 
a  good  degree  of  prosperity. 

The  present.Speaker  of  the  society  is  Francis  Schneider ;  and  the  present  num- 
ber of  members. is  about  sixtyrfive.     During  the  present  month  (June  1871),  meas-' 
ures,  looking  to  a  reunion  of  this  organization  with  the  Indianapolis  Turn-Verein, 
have  been  instituted,  with  a  strong  probability  of  success. 

THE   ASSOCIATION   OP    FREE-THINKERS. 

This  German  Association  was  founded  in  April,  1870,  by  Prof.  Charles  Bey- 
•schlag,  of  this  city;  who  framed  its  constitution,  and  was  its  head  and  Speaker  until 
his  resignation,  in  November,  1870. 

The  Association,  as  set  forth  in  its  constitution,  and  illustrated  by  its  practice, 
is  founded  on  the  basis  of  free  thought,  is  independent  of  every  sectional  creed  or 
ecclesiastical  belief,  and  accepts  as  true  only  such  conclusions  as  are  confirmed  by 
the  elucidations  of  science,  and  established  by  the  light  of  reason. 

The  ordinary  methods  by  which  the  Association  proposes  to  carry  out  its  objects 
are:  lectures  on  popular,  scientific  and  moral  themes;  a  Sunday-school,  in  which  are 
taught  the  history  and  character  of  the  different  systems  of  religion  and  morals, 
•according  to  the  best  authorities;  social  meetings,  in  which  all  free-thinking  peo- 
ple and  their  families  are  invited  to  participate;  and  appropriate  observations  by 
the  Speaker  at  funerals,  and  on  other  serious  and  solemn  occasions. 

The  Association  now  numbers  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  members.  For  its 
support  each  member  is  required  to  pay  one  dollar  into  the  treasury  quarterly. 

UNITED    IRISH    BENEVOLENT    ASSOCIATION. 

Mention  of  this  organization  was  inadvertently  omitted  from  the  chapter  re- 
lating to  Benevolent  Societies ;  it  is  therefore  inserted  here. 

This  society  was  organized  on  the  24th  of  November,  1870.  Its  objects,  MS 
•stated  in  its  constitution,  are:  to  promote  the  social  welfare  of  Irish  citizens;  to 
create  a  fraternity  of  sympathy,  an  identity  of  interest,  and  a  union  of  po^ver 
among  them;  and  benevolence. 

Membership  of  the  society  is  limited  to  those  who  are  of  Irish  birth  or  extvae- 

*  Deceased. 


2g()  SOLLOWAT'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

tion,  who  are  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  fifty  year?,  and  who  are  free  from 
bodily  infirmities  calculated  to  abbreviate  life. 

The  vitality  and  prosperity  of  the  society  are  shown  by  the  fact  that  its  mem- 
bership, at  the  end  of  five  months  from  the  date  of  organization,  numbered  one 
hundred  and  fifty.  It  was  recently  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  State. 

THE    FENIAN    BROTHERHOOD. 

The  Indianapolis  Circle  of  the  Eenian  Brotherhood  was  organized  in  the  year 
1859,  by  the  Rev.  Edward  0' Flaherty.  The  first  officers  were:  R.  S.  Sproule, 
Centre;  J.  &.  Keatinge,  Secretary;  Dr.  Lynch,  Treasurer. 

Up  to  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  the  workings  of  the  order 
were  in  a  quiet,  preparatory  sort  of  way,  and  but  little  was  known  or  heard  of  it, 
in  a  public  sense,  compared  with  its  subsequent  notoriety.  About  this  time  Mr. 
John  Simpson  became  Centre  of  the  Indianapolis  Circle. 

The  split  of  the  order  into  the  O'Mahoney  and  Roberts  factions  took  place  late 
in  1865.  A  majority  of  the  Indianapolis  Circle  voted  that  President  Roberts  was 
the  true  chief  of  the  Brotherhood;  on  which  the  minority  withdrew  and  organized 
a  Circle  in  the  O'Mahoney  interest.  Thomas  Nash  was  chosen  Centre  of  the  latter 
body,  which  died  out  after  an  existence  of  about  one  year. 

On  the  19th  of  March,  1966,  President  Roberts  visited  this  city,  and  his  recep- 
tion at  the  old  Tabernacle  building,  in  the  court  house  square,  was  one  of  the  largest 
mass  meetings  ever  held  in  Indianapolis.  At  this  meeting  a  large  sum  of  money 
was  subscribed.  After  this  all  was  quiet  in  Fenian  Circles  here  till  the  latter  part 
of  May  of  the  same  year,  when  orders  were  received  to  March  to  Canada.  In 
three  days  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  men  were  armed,  equipped,  and  sent  to 
the  rendezvous  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  under  command  of  Captain  James  Haggerty. 

The  engagements  near  Fort  Erie  followed,  in  which  the  Indianapolis  contin- 
gent bore  a  prominent  part.  After  the  fiasco  in  which  this  raid  resulted,  Fenian- 
ism,  in  this  city,  fell  into  decay;  and  late  in  1866  it  oeased  to  exist  as  an  organiza- 
tion, la  the  spring  of  1867  it  was  reconstructed,  and  recovered  much  of  its  lost 
strength. 

On  the  3d  of  June,  1868,  a  State  Convention  of  the  Brotherhood  was  held  here, 
when  the  State  was  divided  into  the  Northern  and  Southern  Districts,  and  £.  F. 
Hart,  of  this  city,  was  appointed  Centre  of  the  latter  district.  For  a  while  the 
Circle  here  prospered  anew;  but  internal  dissensions  breaking  out  again,  resulted 
in  its  dissolution. 

The  Indianapolis  Circle  has  not  sinee  had  an  existence  as  an  organization. 
Out  of  its  disorganized  material  grew  the  present  military  company  called  the 
Emmet  Guards;  and  in  1870  was  organized  the  St.  Patricks  Temperance  Benevolent 
Society,  now  numbering  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  members,  and  much  more 
effectual  in  reclaiming  the  subjects  of  intemperance  from  their  moral  degradation, 
than  was  the  Fenian  Circle  iu  recovering  the  lost  independence  of  Ireland. 

Of  the  i-esuscitation  of  the  Fenian  organization  in  this  city  there  is  now  next 
to  no  prospect.  The  experiences  of  the  past  have  taught  many  the  impracticability 
of  achieving  the  independence  of  Ireland  by  unlawful  forays  into  Canada;  while 
the  mismanagement  of  the  affairs  of  the  order,  and  misuse  of  its  resources,  have 
produced,  a  general  distrust  and.  lukewarmness  among  its  former  members. 


WATER  WORKS.  •         281 

THE    WATER   WORKS. 

Of  the  different  unfulfilled  movements  contemplating  the  building  of  water 
works  in  this  city,  an  account  is  given  on  pages  112  and  113,  of  the  general  history. 

After  much  previous  consideration  and  investigation  of  the  subject,  the  City 
Council,  in  January,  1870,  granted  a  charter  to  the  Water  Works  Company  of  In- 
dianapolis, to  build  works  for  supplying  the  city  with  water;  providing,  among 
other  conditions,  that  the  works  should  fee  of  the  Holly  system;  that  fifteen  miles  of 
pipe  should  be  laid  before  the  close  of  the  year  1871;  and  that,  in  addition  to  the 
requisite  supply  of  water  for  the  cisterns,  etc.,  the  works  should  furnish  the  neces- 
sary quantity  of  water  and  power  for  the  extinguishment  of  fires. 

The  company,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $500,000,  was  at  once  organized,  and  the 
following  officers  and  directors  were  chosen  : 

President,  Jamea  O.  Woodruff;  Secretary,  Alex.  C.  Jameson;  Treasurer,  Wil- 
liam Henderson;  Directors,  William  Braden,  William  Henderson,  Thos.  A.  Hen- 
dricks,  Deloss  Root,  Harmon  Woodruff,  Henry  R.  Seldea,  Aquilla  Jones,  Sr.,  and 
James  E.  Mo&ney. 

The  Holly  System,  as  most  readers  are  aware,  dispenses  with  the  reservoir,  and 
forces  the  water  directly  from  its  source  into  the  pipes  by  means  of  immense  force- 
pumps  ;  at  the  same  time  furnishing  ample  power  and  abundance  of  water  for  sup- 
pressing fires — doing  away  with  the  coat  of  purchasing  and  maintaining  fire  en- 
gines. 

The  available  portion  of  the  Indiana  Central  Canal  was  purchased,  for  propel- 
ling power  for  the  machin«ry  of  the  works.  A  site  for  the  water  supply,  buildings, 
«&c.,  was  secured  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river,  and  south  of  Washington  street 
a  huge  well  has  been  sunk;  the  pumps  aad  machinery  have  been  put  in  position, 
and  over  them  a  suitable  building  has  been  erected. 

The  fifteen  miles  of  pipe  required  to  be  laid  by  the  end  of  the  year  1&71,  had 
been  laid  by  the  early  part  of  that  year.  The  area  supplied  by  the  works,  at  this- 
time,  is  one  mile  square.  . 

The  extension  of  the  system  throughout  the  entire  area  of  the  city  will  require 
sixty  miles  of  pipe. 

The  machinery  is-  substantial  and  powerful.  There  are  three  engines — two- 
piston  and  one  rotary,  from  the  Helly  manufactory  at  Lockport,  New  York ;  and 
thref  Turbine  water  wheels.  The  combined  power  of  the  engines  and  water  wheels 
is  eleven  hundred  horse  power.  The  provisions  for  the  suppression  of  fires  are  of 
the  most  ample  character.  Of  fire  hydrants-  connected  with  the  fifteen  miles  of 
pipe  already  laid,  there  are  two  hundred ;  and  when  the  system  is  extended  to  all 
parts  of  the  city,  the  estimated  number  will  be  about  six  hundred.  The  company 
guaranty  to  throw  six  streams  of  water,  at.  one  time,  to  an  elevation  of  one  hun- 
dred feet,  in  any  part  of  the  city  reached  by  the  system.  The  cost  of  the  works,  as 
far  as  completed,  has  been  about  $350,000;  that  of  the  complete  system  will  be 
about  $650,000. 

The  supplying  capacity  of  the  machinery  is  about  $,000,000  gallons  daily. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Company  are:  John  R.  Elder,  President;  William 
Henderson,  Treasurer;  Alex.  C.  Jameson,  Secretary ;,C.  N.  Lee,  Superintendent. 

SECRET    ORDERS. 

THE   MASONS. 

GRAND  LODGE. — The  Grand  Lodge  of  Indiana  was  formed  at  Madison,  Jan- 
uary 12th,  1818.  Alexander  A.  Meek  being  the  oldest  Past  Master  present,  was- 


282       N  BOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

called  to  the  chair.  On  the  next  day  an  election  for  officers  was  held,  and  Alex- 
ander Breckner  was  elected  Grand  Master. 

For  a  number  of  jears  the  annual  communications  were  held  at  various  points 
in  the  State,  viz:  Jeflersonville,  Corydon,  Madison,  Salem,  Vincennes,  New  Al- 
bany and  Indianapolis.;  but,  s:nce  1833,  they  have  been  held  at  Indianapolis.  The 
Grand  Lodge  Hall  is  located  at  the  south-east  corner  of  Washington  and  Tennessee 
streets.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  October  25,  1848,  and  the  building  was  erected 
during  the  years  1849-50,  at  a  cost  of  about  $20,000.,  and  was  dedicated  by  the 
Grand  Lodge  May  27,  1851.  The  Grand  Officers  for  the  years  1870-71  are: 

M.  W.  Martin  H.  Kice,  of  Plymouth,  Grand  Master ;  K.  W.  George  W.  Por- 
ter, of  New  Albany,  Deputy  Grand  Master;  *R.  W.  William  T.  Clark,  of  Indian- 
apolis, Senior  Grand  Warden;  R.  W.  Christian  Fetta,  of  Richmond,  Junior  Grand 
Warded;  R.  W.  Charles  Fisher,  of  Indianapolis,  Grand  Treasurer;  R.  W.  John 
3J.  Bramwell,  of  Indianapolis,  Grand  Secretary ;  Rev.  John  Leach,  of  New  Car- 
lisle, Grand  Chaplain ;  Bro.  George  H.  Fish,  of  Evansville,  S,  G.  Deacon ;  Bro.  W. 
B.  McDonald,  of  Orleans,  J.  G.  Deacon ;  *Bro.  J.  Sharpe  Wisner,  of  Bluffton,  Grand 
Lecturer;  Bro.  Thomas  B.  Ward,  of  Lafayette,  Grand  Marshal;  Bro.  William  M. 
Black,  of  Indianapolis,  Grand  Tyler.  The  stated  communications  are  held  at  In- 
dianapolis, on  the  Tuesday  next  succeeding  the  fourth  Monday  in  May. 

SUBORDINATE  BODIES  IN  INDIANAPOLIS. — There  are  six  Lodges  of  Master  Ma- 
sons in  the  city,  the  oldest  being  Center  Lodge,  No.  23.  A  dispensation,  for  this 
organization,  was  issued  March  27,  1822,  Harvey  Gregg  to  be  the  first  Master,  Milo 
R.  Davis  the  first  Senior  Warden,  and  John  T.  Osborn  the  first  Junior  Warden ; 
and  on  the  7th  of  October,  1823,  a  charter  was  granted,  Harvey  Gregg  to  be  the 
first  Master,  Harvey  Bates  to  be  the  first  Senior  Warden,  and  John  T.  Osborn  the 
first  Junior  Warden.  In  1834,  its  charter  was  surrendered  and  a  new  charter 
granted,  dated  December  17,  1835.  On  the  first  of  January,  1871,  this  Lodge  had 
two  hundred  a^d  forty-eight  members.  The  officers  for  1871  are  Joseph  Solomon, 
W.  M.;  Nicholas  R.  Ruckle,  S.  W.;  Henry  H.  Langenberg,  J.  W.;  Henry  Dau- 
mont,  Treasurer ;  Charles  Fisher,  Secretary ;  Robert  P.  Daggett,  S.  D. ;  John  Van- 
stan,  J.  D.  Stated  communications,  first  Wednesday  of  each  month. 

Marion  Lodge,  No.  35,  was  chartered  May  27,  1847.  The  number  of  mambers 
on  the  1st  of  January,  1871,  was  one  hundred  and  fifty-three.  The  officers  for  1871 
are:  Jackson  Saylor,  W.  M.;  Thomas  C.  Rout,  S.  W.;  Henry  C.  Sailors,  J.  W.; 
John  F.  Conwell,  Treasurer;  John  G.  Waters,  Secretary;  H.  C.  McFarland,  S?  D.; 
John  Ingles,  J.  D.  Stated  communications,  on  the  third  Wednesday  in  each  month. 

Teutonia  Lodge,  No.  178,  (German). — The  charter  of  this  Lodge  is  dated  May 
29,  1867.  The  number  of  members  January  1,  1871,  was  eleven.  The  officers  for 
1871  are:  Charles  Lauer,  W.  M. ;  Christian  Karle,  S.  W. ;  Joseph  Bernauer,  J. 
W. ;  Frederick  Meyer,  Treasurer ;  Chas.  Dehne,  Secretary ;  Frederick  Klare,  S.  D.; 
Louis  Halle,  J.  D.  Stated  communications,  on  the  second  Friday  of  each  month. 

Capital  City  Lodge,  No.  312. — The  charter  of  this  Lodge  is  dated  May  24,  1865.. 
Number  of  members  January  1,  1871,  ninety-one.  The  officers  for  1871  are:  Wm. 
H.  Ireland,  W.  M.;  A.  H.  Stoner,  S.  W,;  Hiram  Seibert,  J.  W.;  Frederick  Baggs, 
Treasurer;  Geo.  H.  Fleming,  Secretary;  Henry  D.  Pope,  S.  D.;  John  A.  Miller,  J. 
D.  Stated  communication,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  each  month- 

Ancient  Landmarks  Lodge,  No.  319. — Charter  dated  May  24,  1865.  Number 
of  members  January  1,  1871,  one  hundred  and  thirty.  The  officers  for  1871  are: 


SECRET  ORDERS.  2Q3 

James  W-  Hess,  W.  M.;  Joel  O.  Martin,  S.  W.;  Charles  E.  Cones,  J.  W.;  Wm. 
W.  Woolen,  Treasurer;  Ephraim  Hartwell,  Secretary;  Wm.  S.  Armstrong,  S.  D. ; 
Robert  B.  Cowen,  J.  D.  Stated  communication  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  each  month. 

Mytic  Tie  Lodge,  No.  398. — Charter  dated  May  25,  1869.    Number  of  members  , 
January  1,  1871,  fifty-three.      The  officers  for  1871  are:     John  Caven,  W.  M. ; 
Erastus  J.  Hardesty,  S.  W. ;  Joseph  W.  Smith,  J.  W. ;  Ebenezer  Sharpe,  Treasurer; 
William  S.  Cone,  Secretary;  Willis  D.  Engle,  S.  D. ;   Alfred  E.  Miller,  J.  D.    Stated 
communication,  on  the  fourth  Wednesday  in  each  month. 

The  total  number  of  Ma-ter  Masons  affiliated  with  Lodges  in  Indianapolis,  on 
the  1st  of  January,  1870,  was  six  hundred  and  eighty-two.  Total  number  on  the 
1st  of  January,  1871,  six  hundred  and  eighty-six.  Increase  during  the  year,  fouri 
or,  about  three-fifths  of  one  per  cent.* 

The  number  of  deaths  during  the  year  1870,  was  eight;  or  one  and  one-sixth 
per  cent.:  being  an  average  of  life  of  sixty-five  years.  ,• 

THE  CHAPTER. — Indianapolis  Chapter,  No.  5,  Royal  Arch  Masons. — Charter 
dated  May  25,  1846.  Number  of  members  September  1,  1870,  one  hundred  and 
forty-eight.  Present  officers :  Benjamin  C.  Darrow,  H.  P.;  Ephraim  Colestock,* 
K  ;  Ephraim  Hartwell,  S. ;  John  Ebert,  C.  H.;  Wm.  H.  Valentine,  P.  S. ;  Charles 
F.  Pleslin,  R.  A.  C. ;  Isaac  Thalman,  G.  M.  3  V.;  Alfred  L.  Webb,  G.  M.  2  V.; 
W.  S.  Cone,  G.  M.  1st  V.;  Henry  Daumont,  Treasurer;  Charles  Fisher,  Secretary; 
Wm.  M.  Black,  G. 

Time  of  regular  meeting,  on  the  first  Friday  of  each  month.  Died  during  the 
year,  one.  Increase  of  members  during  the  year,  one. 

Keystone  Chapter,  No.  6,  Royal  Arch  Masons. — Dispensation  granted  Septem- 
ber 3,  1870.  Charter  dated  October  20,  1870.  Present  number  of  members  thirty- 
six.  Present  officers:  Martin  H.  Rice,  H.  P.;  Joel  O.  Martin,  K. ;  Daniel  Martin, 
S.;  Wm.  S,  Cone,  C.  H.;  Wm.  H.  Ireland,  P.  S.;  James  Peacock,  E.  A.  C. ;  John  J. 
Palmer,  G.  M.  3d  V.;  Wm.  0.  Stone,  G.  M.  2d  V.;  George  Gumming,  G.  M.  1st 
V.;  Wm.  W.  Woolen,  Treasurer;  Ephraim  Hartwell,  Secretary. 

THE  COUNCIL. — Indianapolis  Council,  No.  2. — Charter  dated  October  18,  1855. 
Number  of  members  September  1,  1870,  one  hundred  and  four.  The  present  officers 
are:  Roger  Parry,  T.  111.  G.  M.;  *Ephraim  Colestock,  D.  111.  G.  M.;  Wm.  S.  Cone, 
P.  C.  W.;  Charles  F.  Pleslin,  C.  G.;  Henry  Daumont,  Tr.;  Charles  Fisher,  Rec'r.; 
Wm.  M.  Black,  S.  and  S.  No  deaths  during  the  year.  Decrease  during  the  year, 
three. 

Time  of  regular  meeting,  on  the  first  Monday  of  each  month. 

THE  COMMANDEBY. — Raper  Commandery,  No.  1. — Charter  dated  May  14,  1848. 
The  number  of  members  on  the  1st  of  January,  1871,  was  seventy-six.  Officers: 
Roger  Parry,  E.  C. ;  Nicholas  E.  Euckle,  G. ;  Alfred  T.  Webb,  C.  G. ;  John  Ebert, 
P.-  George  H.  Fleming,  S.  W.;  W.  S.  Cone,  J.  W.;  Henry  Daumont.  Treas- 
urer ;  Charles  Fisher,  Rec'r. ;  Oliver  B.  Gilkey,  St.  B. ;  Charles  F.  Pleslin,  Sword 
B. ;  Isaac  Thalman,  Warden  ;  Wm.  M.  Black,  Sentinel.  Time  of  regular  meeting, 
on  the  fourth  Wednesday  of  each  month. 

Died  during  the  year,  one.     Increase  of  members  during  the  year,  one. 

SCOTTISH  RITE  A.  &  A.  M. — Adoniram  Grand  Lodge  of  Perfection,  was  insti- 
tuted in  February,  1864,  under  a  dispensation  granted  by  the  Supreme  Council  to 
Hon.  Caleb  B.  Smith,  and  others. 

The  number  of  members  April  1st,  1871,  was  two  hundred  and  fifteen.  The 
officers  for  1871  are:  John  Caven,  T.  P.  G.  M. ;  Jehiel  Barnard.  D.  G.  M. ;  Joseph 

*  Died  June  27, 1871. 


284  HOLLOWATTS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

W.  Smith,  S.  G.  W. ;  James  M.  Tomlinson,  J.  G.  W. ;  Russell  Elliott,  G.  O. ;  L.  R. 
Martin,  G.  Treasurer;  Ephraim  Hartwell,  G.  Secretary;  A.  Sidney  Chase,  G.  M. 
of  C. ;  Max.  F.  A.  Hoffman,  G.  Organist ;  Charles  Lauer,  G.  C.  of  G. ;  C.  H.  G.  Bals, 
G.  H.  B. ;  Charles  John,  G.  Tyler. 

Meeting  for  business  and  work,  every  Wednesday  evening.  Died  during  the 
year,  two.  Increase  of  members  during  the  year,  eleven. 

Seraiah  Council  of  Princes  of  Jerusalem,  was  instituted  in  February.  1864, 
under  a  dispensation  granted  to  Caleb  B.  Smith,  and  others. 

The  number  of  members  April  1,  1871,  wa's  one  hundred  and  sixty-six.  Pres- 
ent officers  :  P.  G.  C.  Hunt,  G.  M.:  Jehiel  Barnard,  Dept.  G.  M. ;  Jos.  W.  Smith, 
Sen.  G.  W. ;  A.  Sidney  Chase,  Jun.  G.  W.;  Ephraim  Hartwell,  G.  Secretary;  L. 
R.  Martin,  G.  Treasurer;  Cyrus  J.  Dobbs,  G.  M.  of  C.;  Joseph  B.  Phipps,  G.  M.  of 
E. ;  Charles  John,  G.  T. 

Died  during  the  year,  two.    Increase  of  membership  during  the  year,  two. 

Indianapolis  Chapter  of  Rose  Croix. — A  dispensation  to  open  this  Chapter  was 
granted  November  2,  1864,  to  Theodore  P.  Haughey  and  others. 

The  number  of  members  April  1,  1871,  was  one  hundred  and  twenty-four.  The 
officers  for  1871  are:  Jehiel  Bernard,  M.  W. ;  Nicholas  R.  Ruckle,  Sen.  W.;  Joseph 
W.  Smith,  Jun.  W.;  John  B.  Brandt,  G.  O.;  L.  R.  Martin,  G.  Treasurer;  Ephraim 
Hartwell,  Secretary ;  Gilbert  W.  Davis,  G.  H.;  Wm.  H.  Valentine,  M.  of  C.;  Cyrus 
J.  Dobbs,  Captain  of  G. 

Died  during  the  year,  one.    Increase  of  membership  during  the  year,  six. 

Indiana  Consistory. — A  dispensation  to  open  this  Body  was  granted  Novem- 
ber 2,  1864,  to  Edwin  A.  Davis,  and  others. 

The  number  of  members  April  1,  1871,  was  one  hundred  and  seven.  Officers 
for  1871:  Nicholas  R.  Ruckle,  Commander  in  Chief ;  Cyrus  J.  Dobbs,  First  Lieu- 
tenant Commander ;  P.  G.  C.  Hunt,  Second  Lieutenant  Commander;  Max.  F.  A. 
Hoffman,  M.  of  S. ;  Nathan  Kimball,  G.  C.;  E.  Hartwell,  Secretary  L.  R.  Martin, 
Treasurer;  S.  A.  Johnson,  G.  E.  and  A.;  Charles  H.  G.  Bals,  G.  H. ;  Algernon  S. 
Chase,  G.  M.  of  C. ;  Joseph  W.  Smith,  G.  S.  B. ;  S.  T.  Scott,  G.  C.  of  G. ;  Charles 
John,  G.  S. 

Died  during  the  year,  one.  Increase  of  members  during  the  year,  five. 
The  Thirty-  Third  Degree.  —  Persons  in  possession  of  the  Thirty-third  Degree, 
and  Members  of  the  Supreme  Council,  N.  J.  U.  S.,  residing  in  Indianapolis,  are: 
James  W.  Hess,  thirty-third  degree ;  John  Caven,  thirty-third  degree ;  Phineas 
G.  C.  Hunt,  thirty-third  degree ;  Nicholas  R.  Ruckle,  thirty-third  degree.  Deputy  of 
the  Supreme  Council  for  the  District  of  Indiana,  John  Caven,  thirty-third  degree. 

COLOKED   MASONIC   ORGANIZATIONS. 

The  African  Grand  Lodge  of  Indiana  was  organized  in  this  city  in  1855,  and 
now  numbers  eighteen  effective  Subordinate  Lodges,  in  good  standing.  The  first 
Grand  Master  was  J.  G.  Britton,  of  Indianapolis.  Present  Grand  Officers :  Wil- 
liam "Walden,  Grand  Master;  C.  A.  Roberts,  Deputy  Grand  Master;  G.  W.  Robin- 
son, Grand  Secretary;  James  Van  Horn,  Grand  Treasurer.  Stated  Communication 
in  June  Annually,  at  Indianapolis. 

The  Subordinate  bodies  in  this  city  are  the  following : 

Union  Lodge  No.  1 — Organized  in  1847 — has  forty  members. 

Gleve's  Lodge  No.  2 — Organized  in  1866 — has  about  forty-five  members. 

Pythagoras  Lodge  No.  9 — Organized  in  April,  1869— has  fifty  members. 


SECRET  ORDERS.  285 

Zerubbabel  Chapter  No.  2,  R.  A.  M. — Organized  in  September,  1869 — has  thir- 
teen members. 

INDEPENDENT    ORDKR    OF    ODD    FELLOWS. 

This  city  is  the  seat  of  the  Indiana  Grand  Lodge  and  Indiana  Grand  Encamp- 
ment of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  of  four  Subordinate  Lodges  and 
three  Sabordinate  Encampments  of  that  Order.  The  charter  for  the  first  Subordi- 
nate Lodge  in  this  State — New  Albany  Lodge  No.  1 — was  granted  by  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  the  United  States,  on  the  9th  of  October,  1835.  Monroe  Lodge,  No.  2, 
Madison,  was  chartered  sometime  in  1836. 

T«E  GRAND  LODGE  OF  INDIANA. — On  the  petition  of  New  Albany  Lodge  No. 
1,  and  Monroe  Lodge  No.  2,  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Indiana  was  instituted  at  New 
Albany,  by  Deputy  Grand  Master  Henry  Wolford,  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Ken- 
tucky, on  the  14th  August,  1837.  By  a  warrant  dated  October  19th,  1841,  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Indiana  was  removed  to  Madison. 

September  19th,  1845,  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  United  States  authorized  the  ref- 
erence of  a  proposition  to  remove  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Indiana  to  Indianapolis,  to 
a  voteof  all  the  Subordinate  Lodges  in  the  State.  The  vote  was  in  favor  of  such 
removal,  and  the  first  meeting  of  the  Grand  Lodge  in  this  city,  was  held  on  the  19th 
of  January,  1846.  It  has  ever  since  been  located  here.  At  the  time  of  its  removal 
to  this  city,  the  Grand  Lodge  comprised  twenty-seven  Subordinate  Lodges,  with  an 
aggregate  membership  of  seven  hundred  and  sixty- eight. 

The  first  Grand  Officers  were:  Joseph  Barkley,  Grand  Master;  Richard  D. 
Evans,  Deputy  Grand  Master;  Jared  C.  Jocelyn,  Grand  Secretary;  Henry  H.  West, 
Grand  Warden;  John  Evans,  Grand  Treasurer. 

The  successive  Grand  Masters,  for  the  period  of  one  year  each,  except  where 
it  is  otherwise  stated,  have  been:  Joseph  D.  Barkley,  from  August,  1837;  Richard 
D.  Evans,  from  August,  1838  (deceased  in  February,  1847);  William  Ford,  from 
August,  1839  (deceased  October,  1860);  Christan  Bucher,  from  August,  1840;  John 
Neal,  from  August,  1841  ;  James  W.  Hinds,  from  August,  1842;  Noah  H.  Cobb, 
from  July,  1843;  William  Cross,  from  July,  1844;  John  H.  Taylor,  from  July, 
1845  (deceased  in  August,  1858);  Joel  B.  McFarland,  from  July,  1846  (deceased  in 
April,  1861);  John  Green,  from  July,  1847;  Philander  B.  Brown,  from  July,  1848; 
Job  B.  Eldridge,  from  July,  1849;  Milton  Herndon,  from  July,  1850;  Oliver  Du- 
four,  from  July,  1851;  Joseph  L.  Silcox,  from  July,  1852  (deceased  in  May,  1856); 
William  K.  Edwards,  from  July,  1853;  Oliver  P.  Morton,  from  July,  1854;  J.  B. 
Anderson,  from  July,  1855;  James  H.  Stewart,  from  November,  1856;  P.  A.  Hac- 
kleman,  from  November,  1857  (deceased  in  October,  1862) ;  A.  H.  Mathews,  from 
November,  1858  (deceased  in  April,  1862);  Thomas  Fnderwood,  from  November, 
1859;  Solomon  Meredith,  from  November,  1860;  William  H.  Dixon,  from  Novem- 
ber, 1861  (deceased  in  April,  1865);  Jonathan  S.  Harvey,  from  November,  1862; 
Dennis  Gregg,  from  November,  1863  (deceased  October,  1865);  Harvey  D.Scott, 
from  November,  1864;  Thomas  B.  McCarty,  from  November,  1865;  Jos.  A.  Funk, 
from  November,  1866;  John  Sanders,  from  November,  1867:  Samuel  L.  Adams, 
from  November,  1868  (deceased  August  23,  1869);  James  A.  Wildman,  from  No- 
vember, 1869;  W.  H.  DeWolf,  from  November,  1870. 

The  present  Grand  Lodge  Officers  are:  W.  H.  DeWolf,  M.  W.  Grand  Master, 
of  Vincennes;  J.  W.  McQuiddy,  R.  W.  D.  Grand  Master,  of  New  Albany;  Platt 
J.  Wise,  R.  W.  Grand  Warden,  of  Fort  Wayne ;  E.  H.  Barry,  R.  W.  Grand  Secre- 
tary, of  Indianapolis;  T.  P.  Haughey,  R.  W.  Grand  Treasurer,  of  Indianapolis; 


286  HOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

Thomas  Underwood,  G.  Representative,  G.  L.  TJ.  S.,  of  Lafayette;  J.  A.  Wildman, 
G.  Representative  G.  L.  U.  S.,  of  Kokomo;  Philip  Hornbrook,  alternate  G.  Rep- 
resentative G.  L.  U.  S.,  of  Evansville;  C.  L.  Cory,  alternate  G.  Representative 
G.  L.  U.  S.,  of  Fairfield;  Rev.  C.  A.  Munn.  W.  G.  C.,  of  Kendallville;  E.  H. 
Wolf,  W.  G.  M.,  of  Rushville;  Reddick  Harrell,  W.  G.  C..  of  Petersburg;  H.  C. 
Milice,  W.  G.  H.,  of  Kosciusko;  H.  D.  Milns,  W.  G.  G.,  of  Terre  Haute. 

The  Grand  Lodge  now  numbers  three  hundred  and  thirty-eight  effective  Sub- 
ordinate Lodges,  having  an  aggregate  membership  of  about  twenty  thousand.  The 
Annual  Communication  is  held  in  Grand  Lodge  Hall,  in  this  city,  on  the  third 
Tuesday  in  November;  the  Semi-annual  Communication  is  held  at  the  same  place 
on  the  third  Tuesdays  in  May  and  November. 

Of  the  elegant  "Grand  Lodge  Hall,"  on  the  north-east  corner  of  Washington 
and  Pennsylvania  streets,  a  brief  description  is  given  on  page  99.  It  is  only  neces- 
sary to  supplement  what  is  there  written,  with  a  corrected  statement  of  the  cost  of 
the  building  and  site, — in  round  numbers,  about  $62,000,  instead  of  $47,000.  as 
there  given. 

THE  GRAND  ENCAMPMENT  OF  INDIANA. — This  body  was  instituted  at  Indianap- 
olis on  the  10th  of  January,  1847,  by  Jacob  Page  Chapman,  by  virtue  of  a  warrant 
granted  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  United  States.  The  first  officers  were:  Chris- 
tian Bucher,  M.  W.  Grand  Patriarch;  Philander  B.  Brown,  M.  E.  Gr&nd  High 
Priest;  Jacob  Page  Chapman,  R.  W.  Grand  Senior  Warden ;  A.  W.  Gordon,  R.  W. 
Grand  Junior  Warden,  Willis  W.  Wright.  R.  W.  Grand  Scribe;  Edwin  Hedderly, 
R.  W.  Grand  Treasurer;  David  Craighead,  R.  W.  Grand  Sentinel. 

The  successive  Grand  Patriarchs,  for  one  year  each,  have  been  :  Christian 
Bucher,  from  July,  1847 ;  Thomas  S.  Wright,  from  July,  1848 ;  Isaac  H.  Taylor, 
from  July,  1849;  Job  Eldridge,  from  July,  1850;  Jacob  Page  Chapman,  from  July, 
1851;  Daniel  Moss,  from  July,  1852;  Edward  H.  Barry,  from  July,  1853;  Mar- 
shall Sexton,  from  July,  1854;  Lewis  Humphreys,  from  July,  1855  to  November, 
1856;  Jonathan  S.  Harvey,  from  November,  1856;  Chris.  Miller,  from  November, 
1857;  John  H.  Stailey,  from  November,  1858;  Thomas  B.  McCarty,  from  Novem- 
ber, 1859;  N.  P.  Howard,  from  November  1860;  L.  M.  Campbell,  from  November, 
1861 ,  David  Ferguson,  from  November,  1862  ;  Leonidas  Sexton,  from  November, 
1863;  James  Burgess,  from  November,  1864;  F.  J.  Blair,  from  November,  1865; 
C.  P.  Tuley,  from  November,  1866;  William  M.  French,  from  November,  1867; 
William  C.  Lupton,  from  November,  1868;  James  Peirce,  from  November,  1869; 
Thomas  G.  Beharrell,  from  November,  1870. 

The  present  officers  are:  Thomas  G.  Beharrell,  M.  W.  Grand  Patriarch,  of 
Moore's  Hill;  W.  Y.  Monroe,  M.  E.  Grand  High  Preist,  of  North  Madison  ;  Samel 
Raymond,  R.  W.  Grand  Senior  Warden,  of  Indianapolis ;  Reuben  Robertson,  R.  W. 
Grand  Junior  Warden,  of  New  Albany ;  Edward  H.  Barry,  R.  W.  Grand  Scribe, 
of  Indianapolis;  T.  P.  Haughey,  R.  W.  Grand  Treasurer,  of  Indianapolis;  Chris- 
topher Toler,  W.  Grand  Sentinel,  of  Madison  ;  Joseph  S.  Watson,  W.  Grand  Deputy 
Sentinel,  of  Indianapolis;  James  Peirce,  G.  Representative  G.  L.  U.  S.,  of  New 
Albany;  G.  W.  Jordon,  of  Attica,  and  John  F.  Wallick,  of  Indianapolis,  alternate 
G.  Representatives  G.  L.  U.  S. 

The  present  number  of  Subordinate  Encampments,  is  one  hundred  and 
seven;  with  an  aggregate  membership  of  about  four  thousand  five  hundred. 

The  Annual  and  Semi-annual  Communications  of  the  Grand  Encampment,  are 
held  in  Grand  Lodge  Hall,  in  this  city,  at  the  same  dates  as  those  of  the  Grand 
Lodge,  before  stated. 


SECRET  ORDES9.  2S7 

SUBORDINATE  BODIES  IN  INDIANAPOLIS. — These  are:  Center  Lodge,  No.  18; 
Philoxenian  Lodge,  No.  44;  Capital  Lodge  No.  124;  Germania  Lodge,  No.  129; 
Metropolitan  Encampment,  No.  5;  Marion  Encampment,  No.  35;  Teutonia  En- 
campment, No.  57. 

Center  Lodge,  No.  18,  was  instituted  on  the  24th  of  December,  1844,  with  the 
following  members:  William  Sullivan,  Edgar  B.  Hoyt,  Jacob  Page  Chapman.  "Wil- 
liam A.  Day,  Enoch  Pyle,  Jacob  B.  MeChesney,  and  John  Kelley.  "William  Sul- 
livan was  the  first  Noble  Grand  of  this  Lodge,  and  its  first  Representative  to  the 
Grand  Lodge. 

The  membership,  on  the  31st  of  March,  1871,  numbered  one  hundred  and 
fifty-six.  The  present  officers  are  :  L.  W.  Hetselgesser,  Noble  Grand ;  George  C. 
Strachan,  Vice  Grand;  George  P.  Anderson,  Permanent  Secretary;  John  W.  Miller, 
Kecording  Secretary;  John  G.  Waters,  Treasurer. 

Philoxenian  Lodge,  No.  44,  was  instituted  on  the  8th  of  July,  1847,  with  the 
following  members:  Harvey  Brown,  D.  P.  Hunt,  Willis  W.  Wright,  J.  J.  Owsley, 
Wm.  Robson,  George  D.  Staats,  D.  T.  Powers,  Lafayette  Yandes,  William  Mansur. 

The  first  officers  were:  Harvey  Brown,  Noble  Grand  ;  D.  P.  Hunt,  Vice  Grand  ; 
Willis  W.  Wright,  Secretary;  John  J.  Owsley,  Treasurer. 

The  present  officers  are:  J.  H.  McClosky,  Noble  Grand;  E.  R.  Wood,  Vice 
Grand;  D.  De  Ruiter,  Recording  Secretary;  George  D.  Staat?,  Permanent  Secre- 
tary ;  Joseph  Staub,  Treasurer 

The  present  membership  numbers  one  hundred  and  ninety. 

Capital  Lodge,  No.  124,  was  instituted  on  the  20th  of  January,  1853,  with  the 
following  principal  officers:  John  Dunn,  Noble  Grand  ;  John  Cottman,  Vice  Grand ; 
William  Wallace,  Recording  Secretary;  George  F.  McGinnis,  Treasurer.  The 
present  number  of  members  is  one  hundred  and  ninety-five. 

The  present  principal  officers  are  :  W.  H.  Hazleton,  Noble  Grand  ;  J.  H.  Miller, 
Vice  Grand;  G.  S.  Webster,  Recording  Secretary;  John  F.  Wallick,  Permanent 
Secretary ;  John  McElwee,  Treasurer. 

Germania  Lodge,  No.  129,  was  instituted  on  the  24th  of  February,  1853,  with 
ten  members  and  the  following  officers:  Charles  Coulon,  Noble  Grand;  Alexander 
Metzger,  Vice  Grand ;  Julius  Boetticher,  Secretary;  Henry  Schmidt,  Treasurer. 

The  membership,  at  the  end  of  the  first  year,  numbered  thirty-five.  The 
present  number  qf  members  is  two  hundred  and  sixty-nine. 

The  present  officers  are:  Henry  Geisel,  Noble  Grand;  Henry  Vogt,  Vice  Grand  ; 
Nicholas  Hofmeister,  Secretary;  Charles  Richman,  Treasurer;  Tobias  Bender,  Per- 
manent Secretary. 

Metropolitan  Encampment,  No.  5,  was  instituted  on  the  20th  of  July,  1846,  with 
the  following  officers :  Jacob  Page  Chapman,  Chief  Patriarch ;  Edwin  Hedderly, 
High  Priest;  George  B.  Warren,  Senior  Warden;  W.  B.  Preston,  Junior  Warden; 
Benjamin  B.  Taylor,  Scribe;  A.  0.  Christfield,  Treasurer;  John  H.  Taylor,  Senti- 
nel. The  present  membership  numbers  one  hundred  and  forty. 

The  present  officers  are:  L.  W.  Hetzelgesser,  Chief  Patriarch;  D.  De  Ruiter, 
High  Priest ;  August  Smith,  Senior  Warden ;  E.  A.  Hardy,  Junior  Warden ;  L. 
P.  Creasey,  Recording  Scribe;  George  D.  Staats,  Permanent  Scribe;  John  Rey- 
nolds, Treasurer;  David  Anderson,  Sentinel. 

Marion  Encampment,  No.  35,  was  instituted  on  the  24th  of  March,  1853.  The 
first  officers  were :  Obed  Foote,  Chief  Patriarch  ;  J.  K.  English,  High  Priest ;  A, 
Defrees,  Scribe;  D.  Yandes,  Jr.,  Senior  Warden  ;  Win.  C. Lupton,  Junior  Warden 


BOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

G.  G.  Holman,  Treasurer;  J.  M.  Kemper,  Sentinel.  This  Encampment  has  about 
ninety  members. 

The  preseat  officers  are:  O.  D.  Butler,  Chief  Patriarchy  H.  Nicolai,  High 
Priest;  E.  Cullum,  Senior  Warden }  J.  Holmes,  Junior  Warden;  J.  "W.  Smith, 
Recording  Scribe;  Henry  Adams,  Permanent  Scribe;  John  F.  Wallick,  Treasurer; 
Paul  Sherman,  Sentinel. 

Tentoma  Encampment,  N«.  57,  (German), — Instituted  August  1st,  1858,  with 
thirty -two  members.  The  first  officers  were:  G.  F.  Meyer,  Chief  Patriarch;  Chas. 
Coulon,  High  Priest;  John  B.  Stumph,  Senror  Warden;  Charles  Bals,  Junior  War- 
den; F.  Tapking,  Scribe;  Alexander  Metzger,  Treasurer, 

Present  officers:  Charles  Kueteiaeyer,  Chief  Patriarch;  G,  M.  Wagner,  High 
Priest;  William  Schmidt,  Senior  Warden;  H.  Elstrod,  Junior  Warden;  W.  Banse, 
Recording  Scribe;  Tobias  Bender,  Permanent  Scribe.  Number  of  members,  one 
hundred  and  twenty- four. 

KNIGHTS   OF   PYTHIAS. 

As  this  Society  is  of  comparatively  recent  origin,  a  brief  mention  of  its  rise  and 
general  history,  is  here  prefixed  to  its  history  in  relation  to  this  city.  The  order  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  was  instituted  in  Washington,  D,  C.,  on  the  19th  of  February, 
1864,  by  J.  H.  Rathbone,  by  the  organization  of  Lodge  No.  1.  The  establishment 
of  other  Lodges  followed;  and  on  the  8th  of  April,  of  the  same  year,  the  Sfrand 
Lodge  of  the  District  of  Columbia  was  organized. 

The  order  now  entered  upon  a  critical  period  of  its  history,  threatening  its 
early  extinction.  Before  long,  all  the  Lodges  but  one  had  faded  out  of  existence. 
The  exception  was  Franklin  Lodge  No.  2,  Washington,  D.  C.,  wnich  continued  to 
act  as  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  was  the  rallying  point  for 
the  recovery  of  the  lost  ground,  and  the  future  advance  of  the  order. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  1867,  Excelsior  Lodge  No.  1,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  es- 
tablished in  Philadelphia.  This  movement  was  followed  by  the  establishment  of 
Lodges  in  other  States;  and  on  the  llth  of  August,  1868,  the  Supreme  Lodge  of  the 
World  was  organized,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  —  representatives  being  present  from 
the  District  of  Columbia,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  New  Jersey  and  Delaware. 

On  the  10th  of  March,  1869,  the  Supreme  Lodge  met  in  Ansual  Session  in  the  city 
of  Richmond,  Va.,  with  eight  Grand  Lodges  represented,  as  follows;  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  Maryland,  Delaware,  Virginia,  New  York  and 
Connecticut.  At  the  second  Annual  Session,  held  in  New  York  on  the  10th  day  of 
March,  1870,  the  following  additional  States  were  represented:  Ohio,  Kentucky 
West  Virginia,  Massachusetts,  California,  Indiana  and  Illinois, — or,  sixteen  Grand 
Lodges  in  all.  At  the  third  Annual  Session,  held  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  ad- 
ditional States  were  represented,  namely:  Georgia,  Louisiana,  New  Hampshire, 
Rhode  Island,  Wisconsin  and  Iowa,  —  or  twenty-two  Grand  Lodges  in  all,  on  the 
18th  of  April,  1871. 

The  order  has  also  been  established  in  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Ala- 
bama, Mississippi,  Missouri,  Minnesota,  Vermont,  Maine,  Florida,  Wyoming  Ter- 
ritory and  Canada,  (but  in  these,  except  Missouri,  Grand  Lodges  have  not  yet  been 
organized,) — making  thirty-one  States  and  provinces  in  which  it  has  an  existence 
on  this  Continent. 

Petitions  have  been  received  for  the  establishment  of  the  order  in  Germany, 
Italy,  England  and  France,  and  even  in  South  America.  This  outline  shows  that 
the  order  has  had  a  rapid  growth  and  extension,  in  the  face  of  internal  troubles  and 
dissensions  in  several  localities,  severely  crippling  its  progress. 


SECRET  ORDERS. 

The  growth  of  the  order  is  shown  by  the  subjoined  comparison : 

January  1   1865, 3  Lodges, 78  members. 

•"         1,1866 1  Lodge, 52         " 

"        1,1867, 4  Lodges, 379        " 

«        1,1868, 48       " 6,847        " 

"         1,  1869 t.  194       «       34,624         « 

"         1,  1870, 465       "       54,289         " 

"         1,  1871, 700       " , 84,000         " 

The  diminished  ratio  of  increase  during  the  year  last  past,  is  attributed  to  in- 
ternal troubles;  which  now,  it  is  stated,  are  satisfactorily  arranged,  and  will  not 
hereafter  retard  the  progress  of  the  Society. 

THE  ORDER  IN  INDIANA. — The  order  was  introduced  into  this  State  by  P.  G. 
C.  Charles  P.  Carty.  The  first  Lodge,  in  Indianapolis,  Marion  Lodge  No.  1,  was 
mstituted  on  the  12th  day  of  July,  1869.  By  October  12th,  of  the  same  year,  &ix 
Lodges  had  been  organized,- — three  in  this  city,  and  three  in  Fort  Wayne. 

The  Grand  Lodge  of  Indiana  was  organized  in  Indianapolis,  on  the  20th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1869,  with  the  following  officers:  Charles  P.  Carty,  V.  G.  P.,  Indianapolis; 
Hon.  John  Caven,  G.  C.,  Indianapolis;  John  L.  Brown,  V.  G.  C.,  Fort  Wayne; 
George  H.  Swain,  G.  R.  and  C.  S.,  Indianapolis;  George  F.  Meyer,  G.  B.,  Indian- 
apolis; John  B.  Ryan,  G.  G.,  Indianapolis;  W.  A.  Root,  G.  L  S.,  Indianapolis; 
Charles  Johns,  G.  0.  S.,  Indianapolis. 

At  the  Annual  Session  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  January  llth,  1870,  the  following 
officers  were  elected.-  John  B.  Stumph,  V.  G.  P.;  Hon.  John  Caven,  G.  C. ;  John 
L.  Brown,  V.  G.  C. ;  Charles  P.  Carty,  G.  R.  and  C.  S. ;  George  F.  Meyer,  G.  B. ; 
John  B.  Ryan,  G.  G.;  George  H.  Swain,  G.  I.  S.;  Charles  Johns,  G.  O.  S. 

During  the  year  1870  Lodges  eight,  nine,  ten,  eleven  and  twelve,  were  organized 
at  different  points  in  the  State.  On  the  1st  of  May,  1871,  there  were  nine  effective 
Lodges  in  the  State,  with  an  aggregate  membership  of  about  seven  hundred.  The 
present  Grand  Officers  are:  Hon.  John  Caven,  V.  G.  P.,  Indianapolis;  Wm.  H. 
Hazelton,  G.  C. — office,  24^,  East  Washington  Street,  Indianapolis;  James  A.  Hughes, 
V.  G.  C.,  New  Albany;  Charles  P.  Carty,  G.  R.  and  C.S.— office  at  Martin  $  Hopkins' 
Insurance  office,  Sentinal  Building,  Indianapolis;  J.  W.  Smithers,  G.  B.,  Indianapolis  ; 
N.  R.  Bennett,  G.  G.,  Cambridge  City;  John  Beard,  G.  I.  S.,  Franklin;  Charles 
Johns,  G.  0.  S.,  Indianapolis. 

THE  ORDER  IN  THIS  CITY.  —  The  Order  in  this  city  is  represented  by  the  fol- 
lowing subordinate  Lodges  :  Marion  No.  1,  organized  July  12th,  1869  ;  Olive  Branch 
Lodge  No.  2,  organized  July  12th,  1869;  Koerner  Lodge  No.  6,  (German,)  organ- 
izetl  October  12th,  1869";  S<ar  Lodge  No.  7,  organised  February  1st,  1870.  Th«e 
present  officers  of  the  city  Lodges  are : 

Marion  Lodge  No.  1.— M.  McKeon,  V.  P. ;  H.  Slusher,  W.  C. ;  B.  R.  Binkley, 
W.  V.  C. ;  H.  L.  Burt,  R.  and  C.  S. ;  Jas.  Shepherd,  F.  S. ;  C.  P.  Carty,  B. 

Olive  Branch  Lodge  No.  2.  —  George  C.  Webster,  V.  P. ;  W.  H.  Roll,  W.  C. ; 
N.  C.  Potter,  W.  V,  C. ;  J.  H.  Batty,  R.  and  C.  S. ;  Jesse  De  Haven,  F.  S.;  W.  C. 
Burk,  B. 

Koerner  Lodge  No.  6.— Otto  Boetticher,  V.  P.;  Philip  Reichwein,  W.  C.;  Wil- 
liam Banse,  W.  V.  C. ;  Fred.  Gausepohl,  R.  &  C.  S.;  Charles  F.  Schmidt,  F.  S.; 
Michael  Steinhauer,  B. 

Star  Lodge  No.  7.— Joseph  Kingan,  V.  P.;  H.  C.  Chandler,  W.  C.;  J.  Neu- 
meyer,  W.  V.  C. ;  S.  E.  Perkins,  Jr.,  R.  &  C.  S.;  Walter  Hartpense,  F.  S. ;  W.  H. 
Pitzer,  B. 
(19) 


290  BOLLOWAT'S   INDIANAPOLTS. 

On  the  1st  of  July,  1871,  the  membership  of  the  city  Lodges  was  as- follows  :•' 

Marion  Lodge  No.  1 •. 85 

Olive  Branch  Lodge  No.  2 170 

Koerner  Lodge  No.  6 70 

Star  Lodge  No.  7 „ 120 

Total .., 445 

The  several  Lodges  hi  this  city  have  fitted  up  a  spacious  and  handsome  hall  in 
the  fourth  story  of  the  Citizens'  Bank  Building,  where  they  meet  once  a  week,  as 
follows:  Marion  Lodge  No.  1,  Wednesday  evening;  Olive  Branch  Lodge  No.  2, 
Saturday  evening ;  Koerner  Lodge  No.  6,  Monday  evening ;  Star  Lodge  No.  7r 
Tuesday  evening. 

THE  DRUIDS. 

Octavian  Grove  No.  1. — -This  body  (  "working"  in  German,)  was  instituted  in 
November,  1856,  and  now  has  about  two  hundred  members.  The  present  officers 
are:  David  Wechs-ler,  N.  A.;  August  Hermuth,  Y.  A.;  August  Mueller,  Secre- 
tary. Stated  meetings  every  Monday  evening. 

Humboldt  Grove  No.  8.  —  This  Grove  also  "works"  in  the  German  language. 
It  was  instituted  in  April,  1868,  and  its  present  membership  numbers  one  hundred 
and  thirty.  The  present  officers  are :  Charles  Franke,  N.  A. ;  William  Weiland, 
V.  A.;  Henry  Voigt,  Secretary.  Stated  meetings  every  Wednesday  evening. 

The  Grand  Grove  of  Indiana  was  instituted  in  Indianapolis,  in  1860.  Th& 
Annual  meetings  are  held  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  May,  but  at  no  fixed  place. 

IMPROVED  ORDER  OF   RED  MEN. 

Palmete  Tribe  No.  17,  (German, )  was  instituted  onj,he  2d  day  of  May,  1870r 
with  twenty  members.  The  number  of  members  at  this  time  is  sixty-five.  The 
present  officers  are:  John  Burkart,  Sachem ;  Lawrence  A.  Geis,  Senior  Sagamore  j 
A.  Kaiser,  Junior  Sagamore ;  B.  Bernauer,  Prophet ;  Henry  Alberameier,  Secre- 
tary ;  Joseph  Kaible,  Keeper  of  Wampum.  Stated  meetings,  every  Monday  eve- 
ning. 

Bed  Cloud  Tribe  No.  18. — This  body  "works"  in  English.  It  was  organized  on 
the  10th  day  of  August,  1870,  with  six  members.  The  present  membership  numbers- 
eighty-five.  Present  officers :  W.  C.  David,  Sachem ;  Joseph  K.  Forbes,  Senior  Sag- 
amore; O.  N.  Kidgeway,  Junior  Sagamore;  F.  W.  Hamilton,  Prophet;  George  C, 
Miller,  Keeper  of  Wampum ;  Wm.  H.  D.  Merrill,  Secretary.  Stated  meetings,  every 
Wednesday  evening. 

INDEPENDENT   ORDER  01"  RED   MEN. 

Pocahontas  Tribe  No.  141. — This  Tribe  was  organized  October  3d,  1869,  with 
forty-eight  members.  The  membership  now  numbers  one  hundred  and  sixty-two. 
Present  officers:  J.  L.  Beeler,  0.  C. ;  F.  W.  Schliebitz,  IT.  C.;  John  Ihntris,  1st 
Secretory;  August  Haeffner,  2d  Secretary;  H.  Geisel,  Treasurer;  Philip  Lehr, 
Priest.  Stated  meetings,  every  Tuesday  evening. 

SONS  OF   HERMANN. 

Schiller  Lodge  No.  1.  —  This  is  the  only  Lodge  of  this  Order  in  Indiana,  and 
was  chartered  in  July,  1870.  It  numbers  between  fifty  and  sixty  members.  Tie 


SECRET  ORDERS.  291 

present  officers  are :  Charles  Coulon,  ex-President;  Wm.  Schoeneman,  President; 
Henry  Miller,  Vice-President ;  Frederick  W.  Schliebitz,  Corresponding  Secretary; 
E.  Steinhauer,  Recording  Secretary;  "William  Banse,  Treasurer.  Stated  meetings, 
every  Thursday  evening. 

HARUQARI. 

The  Grand  Lodge  of  Indiana  held  its  first  session  in  Jeffersonville,  on  the  27th 
of  June,  1860.  Its  Annual  meetings  are  now  held  in  Indianapolis,  on  the  first  Wed- 
nesday in  August.  The  Grand  Lodge  now  comprises  fourteen  subordinate  Lodges, 
with  an  aggregate  membership  of  about  six  hundred.  The  present  Grand  Officers 
are:  Aegidius  Naltner,  of  Indianapolis,  G.  B. ;  Franz.  Flaiz,  Deputy  G.  B. ;  August 
Schreiber,  G.  A.;  Edward  Mueller,  Grand  Secretary;  John  Stein,  Grand  Treasurer. 

Freya  Lodge  No.  68,  Indianapolis,  was  the  second  Lodge  instituted  in  this  State, 
and  numbers  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  members. 

HEPTASOPHS.— (SEVEN  WISE  MKN.) 

Indianapolis  Conclave  No.  1,  was  organized  November  1st,  1870,  and  has  ninety- 
five  members.  Present  officers :  John  H.  Gruenert,  Archon ;  Benedict  Fischer, 
Chancellor;  Herman  Altman,  Provost;  H.  H.  Langenberg,  Chaplain  ;  Henry  Speck- 
man,  General  Inspector ;  Dietrich  M.  Muegge,  Treasurer ;  Henry  Dipple,  Financial 
Secretary;  Wm.  Schoeneman,  Herald;  N.  Emerich,  Secretary.  Stated  meetings, 
every  Tuesday  evening. 

Gayo  Conclave,  No.  1,  was  organized  May  26th,  1871,  by  the  election  of  the  fol- 
lowing officers:  Wm.  S.  Cone,  Eminent  Archon;  S.  T.  Scott,  Chancellor;  W.  D. 
Engle,  Provost;  John  G.  Waters,  Secretary;  Kussell  Elliott,  Treasurer;  John  C. 
Miles,  Inspector  General;  Joseph  W.  Smith,  Herald  ;  Wm.  Logan,  Prelate;  James 
E.  Shepard,  Warden,  Charles  E.  Brigham,  Outside  Sentinel.  Number  of  mem- 
bers, eighteen.  Stated  meetings,  every  Friday  evening. 

THE    POST    OFFICE. 

The  early  history  of  the  Indianapolis  Post  Office,  its  different  locations,  etc., 
are  briefly  stated  on  pages  17  and  18. 

It  is  now  located  in  the  Government  building — popularly  called  the  Post  Office 
building — on  the  south-east  corner  of  Pennsylvania  and  Market  streets.  Of  this 
building  the  lower  story  and  basement  are  occupied  by  the  Post  Office ;  the  second 
and  third  stories,  by  the  United  States  Collector,  Assessor,  District  Attorney, 
Marshal,  the  Federal  Courts,  the  Judges  and  Clerk  of  the  United  States  Courts. 

The  erection  of  the  building  was  begun  in  1857,  and  it  was  completed  in  1860. 
The  building  cost  §165,000  ;  a  low  figure,  considering  its  size  and  quality. 

Its  style  is  uniform  with  that  of  the  more  recently  erected  government  build- 
ings throughout  the  country.  Its  leading  features  conform  to  the  Grecian  style  of 
architecture.  Its  principal  materials  are  stone  and  iron,  and  it  is  fire  proof. 

The  Indianapolis  Post  Office  is  one  of  the  first  class  distributing  offices  in  the 
United  States.  The  mails,  for  an  extensive  area  of  surrounding  country,  are  sent 
here  to  be  again  distributed  and  forwarded  to  their  destination.  About  two  years 
ago  the  free  delivery  or  carrier  system  was  introduced,  by  which  mail  matter  is 
delivered  at  the  residences  or  places  of  business  of  citizens,  and  is  collected  for 
mailing  from  street  boxes  placed  at  convenient  intervals  throughout  the  city. 

The  successive  post  masters  have  been:  Samuel  Henderson,  from  March,  1822, 


292  HOLLOWATTB  INDIANAPOLIS, 

to  February,  1831;  John  Cain  to  1841;  Joseph  M.Moore  to  1845;  John  Cain  to 
1849.  Alexander  W.  Russell  succeeded  Mr.  Cain  for  the  term  ending  in  1853,  but 
dying  in  office,  he  was  succeeded  for  the  remainder  of  his  term  by  his  son,  James 
N.  Russell.  Wm.  W.  Wick  1853  to  1857;  John  M.  Talbott  to  1861;  Alexander 
H.  Conner  to  1866;  D.  G.  Rose  to  1868;  William  R.  Holloway,  the  present  incum- 
bent, since  April,  1869.  The  total  number  of  employes  connected  with  the  Post 
Office  is  now  fifty. 

The  annexed  statement  shows  the  extent  of  the  business  transacted  at  the  In- 
dianapolis Post  Office  during  the  year  1870: 

Stamp  Statement. — Received  for  sale  of  postage  stamps $70,101  81 

Received  for  the  sale  of  stamped  envelopes 14,086  65 

Total §84,188  46 

Money   Order  Department. — "Received  for  money  orders  sold $85,763  55 

Received  deposits  from  Postmasters  on  money  order  account 408,624  00 

Total $494,286  65 

Amount  paid  out  for  money  orders  drawn  on  the  office $222,118  80 

Registry  Department. — Number  of  registered  letters  received  for  dis- 
tribution   19,120 

Number  of  registered  letters  received  for  city  delivery 8,376 

Number  of  registered  letters  received  for  mailing 1,240 

Number  of 'registered  packages  of  stamps  and  stamped  envelopes  re- 
ceived for  mailing 6,120 

Number  of  registered  packages  of  envelopes  used 13,919 

General  and  Box  Delixery. — Number  of  letters  delivered  from  boxes 

and  through  general  delivery 306,000 

Number  of  letters  advertised  and  sent  to  Dead  Letter  Office 18,400 

Carriers'  Department. — Number  of  mail  letters  delivered 2,276,134 

Number  of  local  letters  delivered 1,472,640 

Number  of  newspapers,  etc,  delivered 376,704 

Number  of  letters  collected 1,349,943 


Total  delivered  and  collected  by  carriers 4,150,045 

Domestic  Mails. — Number  of  letters  received  for  distribution 9,403.200 

Number  of  letters  deposited  in  office  and  collected  from  the  street  boxes 

for  the  mails 1,331,457 


Number  of  letters  sent  from  the  office t 10,734,657 


Number  of  city  letters  mailed  which  were  sent  to  the  Dead  Letter  Office  6,000 

Number  of  letters  held  for  better  direction,  and  sent  to  Dead  LetterOffice  7,200 
Number  of  letters  addressed  in  initials  and  fictitious  names,  which  were 

sent  to  the  Dead  Letter  Office 500 

Not  Deliverable. — Number  of  letters  returned  from  hotels  and  sent  to 

the  Dead  Letter  Office , 800 

Number  of  letters  returned  to  writers 7,000 

Number  of  bags  of  newspapers  mailed,  received,  and  distributed,  making 

an  aggregate  of  70,200  bushels 42,570 

Number  of  lock  pouches  and  mail  boxes  despatched 28,600 

Number  of  lock  pouches  and  mail  boxes  received 28,500 

MILITARY    ORGANIZATIONS. 

Company  A,  of  the  Indianapolis  National  Guards,  and  the  Emmet  Guards,  are 
the  only  organized  representatives  of  the  military  spirit  of  the  city.  The  former 
is  a  remnant  of  a  full  battalion  styled  the  "National  Guards,"  which  was  organized 
after  the  close  of  the  war,  and  attained  a  high  degree  of  proficiency  in  drill  exer- 
cises. At  present,  all  the  companies  but  "A"  company  are  disbanded. 


Established  in  I860. 


The  China  Tea  Stores. 

ACADEMY  OP  MUSIC  CORNER; 

No.  7  ODD  FELLOWS'  HALL; 

MADISON  AVENUE. 


COFFEE  AND  SPICE  MILLS: 

SOUTH  MERIDIAN  STREET,  ONE  SQUARE  FROM  UNION  DEPOT, 


From  the  Journal  of  Commerce,  July  14<ft,  1871. 

H.  H.  LEE'S  COFFEE^AND  SPICE  MILLS. 
The  Tea,  Sugar  and  Coffee  Trade  of  Indianapolis. 

The  success  which  is  sure  to  follow  a  careful,  systematic  course  of  efforts  in  a  given  direction, 
has  a  happy  illustration  in  the  business  career  of  H.  H.  Lee,  who,  appreciating  the  wants  of  Indi- 
anapolis in  that  direction,  saw  a  comparatively  unoccupied  field  in  the  tea,  sugar,  coffee  and  spice 
trade,  which  he  has  cultivated  to  his  own  interest  and  that  of  the  city  until  he  stands  at  the  head 
of  three  as  fine  establishments  as  the  country  can  boast,  alike  a  credit  to  MB  own  enterptise  and 
that  of  the  Hoosier  Capital.  This  prominence  has  been  achieved  by  a  strict  attention  to  the  busi- 
ness in  hand  and  a  mastering  of  all  its  details,  which  places  it  in  the  power  of  the  operator  to 
understand  the  controlling  influences  of  the  market,  and  enables  him  to  select  first-class  gooda  at 
the  most  advantagaous  rates,  which  advantage  is  shared  with  the  consumer.  By  dealing  only  in 
goods  which  thoroughly  stand  the  test  of  trial,  and  prove  in  every  point  equal  to  representation, 
the  card  of  H.H.  Lee  upon  a  package  has  become  the  synonym  of  genuineness,  and  guarantees  that 
they  who  once  purchase  at  his  establishments  will  duplicate  the  same  as  often  as  required  by  fam- 
ily necessity. 

Mr  Lee's  reputation  as  a  merchant  from  the  sttirt  was  rested  upon  the  quality  of  the  goods 
vended  by  him,  which  has  stood  the  test  of  time,  constantly  increasing  his  business,  requiring 
greater  facilities  for  meeting  the  demand,  until  he  has  been  compelled  to  open  a  coffee  and  spice 
mill  in  the  city,  in  addition  to  his  extensive  stores  on  North  Pennsylvania  street  and  corner  of  Ohio 
and  Illinois.  This  new  establishment  is'situated  at  the  intersection  of  Madison  avenue  with  South 
Meridian  street,  and  has  been  fitted  up  as  might  have  been  expected  from  the  well-known  taste  and 
liberality  of  its  proprietor.  In  the  basement  an  eight-horse  power  engine  works  a  coffee  roaster, 
with  a  capacity  of  eighteen  hundred  pounds  per  day,  with  two  large  spice,  and  the  same  number  of 
coffee  mills.  A  patent  coffee  cooler  stands  ready  to  receive  the  berry  as  It  comes  from  the  roaster. 
Taken  all  together,  the  establishment  is  complete  in  all  its  appointments,  and  cannot  fail  to  large- 
ly add  to  tke  already  extensive  trade  of  its  enterprising  proprietor. 


294  HOLLO WA  r8  INDIANA POLIS. 

The  organization  known  as  the  Emmet  Guirds,  consisting  of  one  company,  is 
composed  of  Irish  citizens,  and  is  the  exponent  of  the  martial  spirit  of  the  Fenian 
Brotherhood  in  this  city. 

If  these  organizations  fail  to  do  the  city  justice  in  point  of  numbers,  they  cer- 
tainly do  it  credit  in  point  of  quality  and  proficiency  in  executing  the  maneuyres 
of  the  drill  and  the  manual  of  arms. 

INSURANCE. 

FOREIGN     COMPANIES. 

The  number  of  Foreign  Life,  Fire  and  Marine  Insurance  Companies,  having 
agencies  in  this  city,  is  ninety-two,  and  of  Accident  Insurance  Companies,  three. 
Of  these,  many  are  State  agencies.  All  the  prominent  companies  of  this  country, 
and  several  large  European  companies,  are  represented  here.  The  aggregate  annual 
business  of  these  agencies,  is  very  large,  but  cannot  be  stated.  The  Insurance 
laws  of  Indiana  do  not  require  the  companies  doing  business  in  the  State  to  annu- 
ally report  to  the  State  authorities  the  amount  of  business  done,  as  in  several  other 
States;  and  an  effort  to  obtain  the  information  from  the  agents,  by  an  application 
to  each,  was  successful  in  too  few  cases  to  furnish  even  a  basis  for  an  approximation 
of  the  aggregate  business  done.  The  annual  receipts  of  all  these  agencies,  on  ac- 
count of  premiums,  may  safely  be  placed  at  $3,000,000. 

FRANKLIN  LIFE  INSURANCE  COMPANY  OF  INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  pioneer  and  only  Indiana  Life  Insurance  Company,  (except  the  Masonic 
Mutual  Benefit  Society,  undermentioned,)  is  the  Franklin  Life  Insurance  Company^ 
of  Indianapolis,  organized  under  the  laws  of  the  State  in  1866. 

The  founders  of  this  enterprise,  if  they  were  controlled  in  their  undertaking  by 
the  prospect  of  its  proving  remunerative,  were  influenced  also  by  another  considera- 
tion, of  more  concern  to  the  community  in  general,  namely :  the  keeping  in  this  city 
and  State  of  a  portion  of  that  large  sum  of  money  annually  drawn  therefrom  by  the 
representatives  of  Eastern  Insurance  Companies. 

The  enterprise  was  vigorously  prosecuted,  and  the  company  was  soon  formed, 
and  prepared  for  business.  It  was  started  on  a  purely  mutual  basis,  without  capitaJ 
stock,  and  as  its  only  assets  were  the  accumulation  of  the  premiums  over  losses  and 
expenses,  its  progress  was  necessarily  slow.  Added  to  this,  was  the  opposition  of  the 
agents  of  foreign  corporations  that  had  long  enjoyed  a  monopoly  of  the  business 
in  Indiana.  The  Franklin  was  in  the  hands  of  men  who  were  capable  and  resolute, 
and  being  liberally  sustained  throughout  the  State,  it  has  steadily  grown  in  the 
confidence  and  favor  of  the  people.  It  is  now  firmly  established,  and  is  making  good 
progress  toward  the  front  rank  of  Life  Insurance  institutions.  The  assets  now 
amount  to  more  than  $200,000,  and  the  annual  income  is  over  half  of  that  sum.  The 
company  has  paid  over  $30,000  to  the  widows  and  orphans  of  its  deceased  mem- 
bers ;  and  as  it  has  been  managed  with  great  prudence  and  economy,  the  dividends 
have  been  large — aggregating  more  than  $40,000. 

The  number  of  new  policies  issued  in  1870,  was  four  hundred  and  twenty-three; 
and  for  the  present  year,  the  indications  are  that  more  than  double  that  number 
will  be  issued. 

In  1868  the  company  purchased  the  building  so  long  occupied  by  the  old  State 
Bank,  where  it  has  very  pleasant  and  commodious  offices. 


W.  S.  HUBBARD,  President. 

W.  D.  WILES,  Vice-President.  E.  P  HOWE,  Secretary. 


FREDRICK  BAGGS,  Treasurer. 


L.  G.  HAY,  Actuary. 


DIRECTORS. 


JAMES  M.  RAY, 
W.  D.  WILES, 
R.  S.  FOSTER, 
FREDERICK  BAGGS, 
INGRAM  FLETQHEE, 
WILLIAM  BRADEN, 
NICHOLAS  MCCARTY, 
NATHAN  KIMBALL, 
PRESTON  HUSSEY,  Terre  Haute, 
A.  R.  FORSYTE,  Greensburg, 


AUSTIN  B.  CLAYPOOL,  Connersville, 
LEONIDAS  SEXTON,  Rushville, 
JOHN  W.  BtmsoN,  Muncie, 
WILLIAM  S.  HUBBARD, 
L.  G.  HAT, 

VALENTINE  BUTSCH, 
BENJ.  C.  SHAW, 

M.  L.  BUNDY,  Newcastle, 
C.  S.  HUBBARD,  Knightstown, 
EZRA  G.  HAYS,  Lawrenceburg. 


GENERAL    OFFICE: 


THE    ONLY   INDIANA    COMPANY, 


ANNUAL  DIVIDENDS. 
NO  RESTRICTION  ON  TRAVEL. 

ALL  KINDS  OP  POLICIES  ISSUED. 


SOLVENCY  I 


ECONOMY  ! 


SECURITY  I 


SUSTAIN  HOME  INSTITUTIONS. 


Since  Life  Insurance,  in  addition  to  the  benefits  it  assures  to  those  dependeae 
upon  policy  holders,  has  now  come  to  be  an  important  power,  in  a  public,  commer- 
cial sense,  the  success  of  the  Franklin,  as  being  a  "home"  institution,  cannot  be 
regarded  here  with  feelings  of  unconcern.  If  it  shall  attain  the  magnitude  already 
reached  by  many  American  Life  Insurance  companies — whose  assets  in  some  cases 
reach  from  $10,000,000  to  $40,000,000 — its  influence  upon  the  finances  of  the  State 
will  be  decidedly  felt,  and  to  the  public  advantage.  The  effect  would  be  to  reduce 
the  rate  of  interest;  to  provide  additional  funds  for  manufacturing  and  other  invest- 
ments requiring  long  time  and  low  interest:  and  so  large  an  addition  to  the  supply 
of  loanable  funds,  would  do  away  with  what  is  known  as  a  "tight  money  market." 

The  company  is  efficiently  managed,  the  officers  for  the  present  year — 1871 — 
being:  Wm.  S.  Hubbard,  President;  "Wm.  D.  Wiles,  Vice  President;  E.  P.  Howe, 
Secretary ;  Fred.  Baggs,  Treasurer,  and  L.  G.  Hay,  Actuary.  These  are  all  gen- 
tlemen of  acknowledged  ability  and  integrity,  as  are  also  the  entire  Board  of 
Directors. 

MASONIC  MUTUAL  BENEFIT  SOCIETY  OF  INDIANA. 

This  Society  was  incorporated  on  the  5th  day  of  August,  1869. 

Its  object  is  to  give  financial  aid  to  the  widows,  orphans  and  depend- 
ents of  deceased  members.  lis  membership  is  confined  to  Master  Masons 
erf  Indiana  in  good  health  at  the  time  of  admission.  The  members  are  divided  into 
four  classes;  those  from  21  to  30  years  of  age  constitute  the  first  class;  from 
31  to  40,  the  second;  from  41  to  50,  the  third,  and  from  51<to  60,  the  fourth  class. 
Each  member  pays  an  admission  fee  of  $6,  and  an  assessment  upon  the  death  of  a 
member,  ranging  from  90  cents  to  $1,80,  according  to  the  class  to  which  he  belongs. 
The  heirs  of  a  deceased  member  receive  a  benefit  amounting  to  $1  for  each  member 
of  the  Society.  The  membership  is  now  (July  1st.,  1871,)  about  four  thousand. 
The  Society  has  paid  twenty-two  benefits,  amounting  to  over  $50,000.  These  figures 
illustrate  the  popularity  of  the  plan  of  this  Society  with  the  Masonic  Fraternity 
in  this  State;  and  the  plan  has  been  adopted  by  the  Masons  of  several  other  States. 

The  office  of  the  Company  is  at  No.  24  Kentucky  Avenue. 

GEHMAN   MUTUAL   FIRE   INSURANCE   GOMiPANY. 

This  organization,  the  only  "home"  Fire  Insurance  Company  doing  business  in 
this  city,  was  instituted  in  May,  1853.  It  has  had  a  steady  and  sure  growth  from  the 
period  of  its  birth.  It  is  constituted  and  conducted  on  the  Mutual  plan.  Beginning 
operations  with  a  subscribed  insurance  amounting  to  $100,000,  the  Company  is  now 
carrying  an  aggregate  insurance  of  $4,000,000.  The  average  of  the  reserve  fund  is 
about  $35,000;  the  average  value  of  premium  notes  held  is  about  $350,000.  The 
reliability  of  the  Company  is  a  matter  of  uncontradicted  repute,  and  is  attested  by 
the  fact  that  during  its  entire  existence — over  eighteen  years- — it  has  never  been 
sued  for  the  payment  of  a  policy. 

Policies  are  issued  in  this  Company  for  a  period  of  six  years;  premium  notes 
are  taken  for  the  whole  amount  of  the  premiums  for  that  period;  and  each  policy- 
holder  is  subject  to  an  Annual  assessment,  averaging  about  7J  per  centum  per 
annum  of  the  amount  of  the  premium  rates  held  against  him  by  the  Company; 
thus  the  policy  holder  \will,  at  the  end  of  six  years,  have  had  six  years  of  insuc- 
ance,  for  about  45  per  eentum  of  the  premium  he  originally  agreed  to  gay. 

The  operations  of  the  Company  are  limited  to  Indiaaa.. 


Assets  July,  1.  18>M,  1O8SOO,OOO.OO. 


MARTIN  &  HOPKINS,  State  Agents,  Indiana, 


Office,    JSoixtirxcl    3ESv».ilc.liiig;? 


298  HOLLOW ATB  INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  Company  is  vested  in  a  Board  of  Direc- 
tors and  in  a  Board  of  Officers,  as  follows: 

Directors. —  Valentine  Butsch,  A.  Seidensticker,  A.  Naltner,  George  Koeniger, 
Chas.  Grobe,  Joseph  Deschler,  John  Stumph,  Charles  Brinkman,  Julius  Boetticher. 

Officers. — A.  Seidensticker,  President;  Valentine  Butsch,  Vice-President;  A. 
Naltner,  Treasurer. 

BANKING  INSTITUTIONS. 

STATE   AND   PRIVATE   BANKS. 

The  plan  of  the  State  Bank  and  its  several  branches,  called  into  existence  by  a 
legislative  charter  in  1834,  and  discontinued  by  the  expiration  of  that  charter  in 
1857;  how  the  State,  through  its  connection  with  and  interest  in  that  institution, 
incurred  a  debt  of  $1,390,000,  in  order  to  obtain  a  loan  of  the  requisite  funds;  and 
how,  from  the  use  of  the  loan  thus  obtained,  the  State,  in  the  space  of  twenty-five 
years,  extinguished  that  loan,  interest  and  principal,  and  netted  about  $3,700,000 
(which  has  now  grown  to  be  nearly  $5,000,000),  for  a  permanent  school  fund;  are 
sufficiently  described  on  pages  forty-six  and  forty-seven  of  the  general  historical 
sketch. 

On  pages  forty-seven  and  forty-eight  are  also  briefly  sketched  the  origin  and 
•decline  of  the  Bank  of  the  State,  with  its  several  branches.  As  there  stated,  the  in- 
troduction of  the  National  Bank  system  superseded  thi«  extensive  institution. 
Since  then  it  has  been  in  process  of  gradual  extinction.  Ten  of  the  branches  have 
been  discontinued;  while  the  other  ten  have,  for  several  years,  been  retiring  their 
circulation,  but  still  continuing,  though  generally  in  a  limited  degree,  to  do  a  gen- 
eral banking  business  in  other  respects.  Practically,  it  may  be  said  that  the  Bank 
of  the  State  is  an  institution  of  the  past. 

We  have  only  space  for  a  brief  mention  of  the  banking  establishments  of  this 
city  that  antedate  in  their  establishment  the  National  Banking  System. 

The  Indianapolis  Branch  of  the  State  Bank  was  organized  November  11,  1834, 
•with  Harvey  Bates,  as  President,  and  B.  P.  Morris,  as  Cashier.  Two  or  three  years 
later,  Mr.  Bates  was  succeeded  by  Calvin  Fletcher,  and  Mr.  Morris  by  Thomas  H. 
Sharpe,  who  served  until  the  expiration  of  the  bank's  charter. 

The  Indianapolis  Branch  of  the  Bank  of  the  State  was  organized  on  the  25th  of 
July,  1855,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  which  was  afterwards  increased  to  over 
$200,000.  Its  first  President  was  W.  H.  Talbott.  In  January,  1857,  Geo.  Tousey 
became  President,  and  C.  S.  Stevenson,  Cashier.  Mr.  Stevenson  resigned  in  1861. 
He  was  succeeded  by  D.  E.  Snyder,  who  served  until  November,  1866,  when  he  was 
•succeeded  by  D.  M.  Taylor,  the  present  cashier.  George  Tousey  was  succeeded  as 
President  in  1866,  by  Oliver  Tousey,  the  former  having  resigned  to  accept  the 
Presidency  of  the  Indiana  National  Sink. 

The  first  private  banking  institution,  of  which  there  is  any  record,  was  the 
Indianapolis  Insurance  Company,  which  was  chartered  early  1836,  with  a  capital  of 
$200,000;  a  corporation  having  authority  to  do  both  an  insurance  and  a  banking 
business,  This  institution  suspended  business  in  1840,  but  was  reorganized  by 
Messrs.  Defrees,  Morris  and  others,  about  the  year  1853.  In  1858  or  1859,  it  sus- 
pended business  a  second  time.  In  1865  it  was  again  reorganized,  passed  into  the 
control  of  a  new  corporation,  the  capital  was  increased  to  $500,000,  and  the  busi- 
ness was  resumed.  Under  the  last  mentioned  change  it  is  still  conducted,  and  occu- 
pies the  old  Branch  Bank  building.  It  no  longer  does  an  insurance  business,  but 
as  a  banking  institution  exclusively. 


INDIANAPOLIS  INSURANCE  CO. 


Buy  and  Sell  Exchange,  Deal  in  Commercial  Paper,  and  make  Collections 
In  all  Parts  of  the  United  States. 


Corner  of  Virginia  Avenue  and  Pennsylvania  Street, 
INDIANAPOLIS,    IND. 

WM.  HENDERSON,  President. 
Alex.  €.  Jameson,  Secretary. 


WM.  HANNAMAN. 


B.  L.  WHITTEN. 


H.  G.  HANNAMAN. 


oo.9 


DEALERS  IN 


m* 


100 


CO., 


Importers  and  Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealers  in 


TABLE    CUTLERY    and 

COLD    FISH    AND    AQUARIA. 

13    WEST    WASHINGTON    STREET, 


3Q0  HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  present  private  banking  house  of  Fletcher  &  Churchman  was  established 
by  S.  A.  Fletcher,  Sr.,  in  1839,  occupying  an  indifferent  and  primitive  structure 
on  the  present  site  of  No.  8  East  Washington  street.  Timothy  E.  Fletcher  was  a 
partner  in  this  house  from  its  beginning  to  1858.  On  the  1st  of  June,  1864,  S.  A. 
Fletcher,  Sr.,  retired  and  was  succeeded  by  S  A.  Fletcher,  Jr.,  and  F.  M.  Church- 
man. On  the  1st  of  January,  1868,  S.  A.  Fletcher,  Sr.,  again  became  the  head  of 
the  house,  S.  A.  Fletcher,  Jr.,  retiring.  This  house  now  occupies  the  most  elegant 
building  of  all  the  banking  houses  in  the  city — No.  30  East  Washington  street. 
It  began  business  with  a  capital  of  but  $3,000.  Its  increase  will  appear  from  the 
exhibit  of  its  present  magnitude,  further  on. 

E.  S.  Alvord  &  Co.  opened  a  banking  establishment  in  1839,  and  discontinued 
it  four  years  later. 

John  Wood  began  business  as  an  exchange  broker  and  banker  in  1838,  and 
failed  in  1841 — to  the  considerable  detriment  of  many  who  held  the  irredeemable 
shinplaster  currency  he  had  put  into  circulation. 

The  Bank  of  the  Capital,  J.  Wooley  &  Co.,  proprietors,  having  a  nominal  capital 
of  $400,000,  began  business  in  1853  and  failed  in  1857,  with  a  considerable  excess 
of  liabilities  over  assets.  W.  S.  Pierce  and  John  H.  Bradley  were  Presidents,  in 
turn,  of  this  institution,  and  J.  Wooley  was  its  caahier. 

The  Farmers  and  Mechanics  Bank  was  instituted  in  February,  1854.  Its  suc- 
cessive Presidents  were  Allen  May  and  G.  Lee ;  it  successive  Cashiers,  William  F. 
May  and  0.  Williams.  Cashier  May  absconded  in  May,  1855,  taking  with  him 
$10,000  of  the  bank's  funds.  This  shock  was  fatal  to  the  existence  of  the  concern. 

The  two  concerns  last  named  were  organizations  under  the  Free  Banking  Law 
of  1852,  as  were  also  the  following: 

The  Traders  Bank,  Messrs.  Wooloy  &  Wilson,  proprietors,  established  in  1854; 
the  Central  Bank,  established  in  July,  1855,  having  a  nominal  capital  of  $500,000; 
the  Metropolitan  Bank,  also  established  in  1855.  Of  the  Central  Bank  Ozias  Bowen 
and  J.  D.  Defrees  were  successive  presidents;  Sidney  Moore  and  W.  H.  McDonald, 
successive  Cashiers.  The  proprietors  of  the  Metropolitan  Bank  were  A.  F.  Morri- 
son &  Co.;  its  president  was  J.  P.  Dunn,  and  its  cashier  the  notorious  Jerry  Skeen. 
These  institutions  were  short-lived.  Their  chief  result  was  the  emission  of  a  large 
circulation  of  notes,  after  which  they  supended  payment,  and  then  their  proprietors 
or  the  State  Auditor  closed  up  their  offices,  leaving  the  holders  of  their  circulation 
to  suffer  the  losses. 

Thus  it  was  that  the  Free  Banking  System  was,  as  a  rule,  a  benefit  only  to  the 
bankers  thereunder,  the  holders  of  their  circulation  sustaining  great  losses  by  its 
depreciation. 

The  present  banking  house  of  A.  &  J.  C.  S.  Harrison  was  established  in  1854, 
by  its  present  proprietors. 

In  February,  1856,  Dunlevy,  Haire  &  Co.,  brokers,  began  business  in  this  city. 
As  agents  for  Cincinnati  banks,  they  had  sent  to  them  for  redemption,  during  the 
brief  existence  of  their  firm,  some  $2,000,000  of  the  circulation  of  our  State  and 
Free  Banks,  for  which  they  drew  the  specie.  'This  extensive  depletion  of  our 
banks  of  their  specie,  brought  Dunlevy,  Haire  &  Co.,  and  their  principals,  into 
great  disfavor  here,  and  led  to  the  commercial  convention  of  1856. 

Wm.  Kobson,  A.  L.  Voorhees,  and  others,  established  a  Savings  Bank,  in  Odd 
Fellows'  Hall,  in  1854;  of  which  Robson  became  the  proprietor  in  1857.  The  col- 
lapse of  the  Bank  of  the  Capital  involved  Robson's  enterprise  in  the  wreck,  on  the 


DRUGGISTS"    SUEIDRIK&, 


No.  20  West  Washington  Street, 


IMI. 


I 


1  89  East  Washington  Street, 

INDIANAPOLIS,  INDIANA. 


ICE  CREAM,  WATER  ICES,  JELLY, 

And  every  article  pertaining  to  the  trade  will  be  served  in  the  neatest  style. 


Private  Parties  Furnished  with  Oysters,  Meats,  Ice  Cream,  Etc.,  on  the 

Shortest  Notice. 


3Q2  EOLLOWArS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

17th  of  September.  1857,  leaving  his  depositors  victims  to  the  amount  of  $15,000. 
This  indebtedness  was  all,  or  nearly  all,  paid  by  the  receiver  in  April,  1858. 

In  1856,  G.  S.  Hamer  established  an  enterprise  devoted  chiefly  to  "  note  sha- 
ving,1' and  the  emission  of  "  shinplaster"  currency.  After  an  inglorious  career  of 
some  six  months,  Hamer  was  arrested  for  passing  counterfeit  money,  his  enterprise 
faded  out  of  existence,  and  he  out  of  the  community. 

The  present  private  banking  house  of  Fletcher  &  Sharpe,  the  "Indianapolis 
Branch  Banking  Company,"  was  established  January  1st,  1857,  by  Calvin  Fletcher, 
Sr.,  and  Thomas  H.  Sharpe.  Calvin  Fletcher,  Sr.,  died  on  the  26th  of  May,  1866. 
The  present  house  consists  of  Thomas  H.  Sharpe,  Ingram  Fletcher  and  Albert  E. 
Fletcher. 

In  the  autumn  of  1862,  Kilby  Ferguson  established  the  Merchants  Bank.  Dis- 
astrous gold  speculations  terminated  Mr.  Ferguson's  banking  career  in  somewhat 
less  than  one  year.  His  liabilities  were  not  settled  until  several  years  after  his 
failure. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1860,  it  is  estimated  that  the  banking  capital  of 
the  city  did  not  exceed  $500,000.  The  statistics  at  the  close  of  this  sketch  will 
exhibit  the  great  increase  since  then. 

The  Indiana  Banking  Company,  a  private  bank,  and  a  reliable  and  flourishing 
institution  of  to-day,  was  established  March  1st,  1865,  with  a  capital  of  $100.000. 

The  present  private  banking  house  of  Woolen,  Webb  &  Co.,  was  established 
in  March,  1870;  the  Savings  Bank  of  J.  B.  Ritzinger,  March  26,  1868. 

This  completes  our  mention  of  the  State,  Free  and  Private  Bank  enterprises 
of  the  city  to  the  present  date ;  and  we  will  now  retrace  our  chronology  to  the 
time  of  the  introduction  of 

THE   HATIONAL   BANKING   SYSTEM. 

The  war  of  the  rebellion  wrought  its  familiar  revolution  in  the  paper  currency 
circulation  of  the  country,  superseding  the  circulating  notes  of  State  and  private 
banks  by  a  currency  founded  on  the  credit  of  the  nation.  Thus  was  inaugurated 
the  era  of  a  better  founded  and  more  correct  system  of  banking — as  relates  to  cir- 
culation, at  least — than  the  country  had  ever  known :  The  National  Banking 
System,  established  by  Congress  in  1864. 

The  first  National  Bank  in  this  city,  and  one  of  the  first  in  the  United  States, 
was  organized  on  the  llth  of  May,  1863,  by  Wm.  H.  English  and  ten  associates, 
under  the  name  of  The  First  National  Bank  of  Indianapolis.  The  paid  in 
capital,  in  the  beginning  was  $150,000,  which  amount  has  been  increased,  from 
time  to  time,  until  it  is  now  $1,000,000,  with  a  surplus  fund  of  $200,000, — being 
the  largest  bank  in  the  State,  and  one  of  the  largest  in  the  "West.  The  First  Na- 
tional occupied  this  field  exclusively  until  the  fall  of  1864,  when  the  Indianap- 
olis National  was  organized,  aad  others  followed,  until  we  now  have  five,  with  an 
aggregate  capital  of  $2,500,000,  being  about  one  eighteenth  of  all  the  wealth  on 
the  tax  duplicate  of  the  county.  It  is  the  boast  of  the  stockholders  of  the  First 
National  Bank  .that  one-fortieth  of  all  the  taxes  flowing  into  the  treasury  of 
Marion  county  is  derived  from  the  tax  upon  the  stock  of  that  bank. 

The  dates  of  the  organization  of  the  other  National  Banks  in  this  city  were: 
The  Citizens'  National  Bank,  November  28,  1864;  The  Indianapolis  National  Bank, 
December  15,  1864;  The  Fourth  National  Bank,  January  23,  1865  (consolidated 
with  the  Citizens'  in  December,  1865);  The  Merchants'  National  Bank,  January  17, 
1865;  The  Indiana  National  Bank,  March  14,  1865. 


TIHIIE 


TIE  INDIANA  Music  STORE, 


WEBER  PIANOS. 


KEEP  OTHER  FIRST  CLASS  PIANOS. 


Keep  a  Full  Stock  of  all  Kinds  of  Musical  Merchandise, 


"  Willard's  Musical  Visitor"  Only  50  Cts.  Per  Annum, 


TJS  .A. 


A.   G.   WILLARD   &   CO., 


304  SOLLGWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  table,  placed  for  the  sake  of  convenience  at  the  end  of  this  sketch,  will 
show,  in  detail,  the  capital,  business,  and  condition  generally,  of  each  of  these  five 
National  Banks,  and  is  taken  from  the  sworn  returns  of  their  respective  officers 
to  the  General  Government, 

RESOURCES   OF  THE   PRIVATE   BANKS. 

As  private  bankers  are  not  required  to  render  any  detailed  report  of  their 
business  to  the  Government,  it  is  more  difficult  to  give  an  account  of  them.  It  is 
well  known,  however,  that  the  private  bankers  of  Indianapolis  are  doing  a  large 
and  prosperous  business.  Their  capital  and  average  deposits  would  probably  stand 
about  as  follows : 

S.  A.  Fletcher  &  Co $800,000 

Fletcher  &  Sbarpe 750,000 

Indianapolis  Insurance  Company ... 550,000 

Indiana  Banking  Company . » 550,000 

A.  &  J.  C.  S.  Harrison 450,000 

Woolen,  Webb  &  Co 350,000 

Kitzinger's  Bank 250,000 

Pettit,  Braden  &  Co 80,,000 


Making  a  total  of §3,780,000 

How  much  of  this  is  capital  and  how  much  deposits,  we  are  not  informed;  but 
more  than  half  is  probably  deposit 8. 

THE   CLEARING   HOTJSK. 

The  banking  interests  of  the  city  reached  such  a  magnitude  as  to  require  the 
establishment  of  a  Clearing  House,  which  went  into  operation  in  the  beginning  of 
the  year  1871.  The  following  table  will  show  what  banks  constitute  the  associa- 
tion, and  the  amount  of  capital  and  average  deposits  reported  by  each  bank  at  that 
time,  vii : 

First  National  Bank §1,600,000 

S.  A.  Fletcher  &  Co 800,000 

A.  &  J.  C.  S.  Harrison 450,000 

Fletcher  &  Sharpe 750,000 

The  Indianapolis  National  Bank 700,000 

Indianapolis  Insurance  Company 550,000 

Citizens'  National  Bank _ 800,00-0 

Woolen,  Webb  &  Co 350,000 

Ritzinger's  Bank 250,000 

Pettit,  Braden  &  Co 80,000 

Indiana  Banking  Company 550,000 

Merchants'  National  Bank 200,000 

Indiana  National  Bank „  500,000 


Total §7,580,000 

The  Officers  of  the  Clearing  House  are :  President,  William  H.  English ; 
Vice  President,  F.  M.  Churchman  ;  Manager,  Jot  Elliott ;  Executive  Committee, 
A.  G.  Pettibone,  William  H.  English  and  F.  M.  Churchman. 


LIGHT. 


LIGHT. 


LIGHT, 


PORTABLE  GAS  LIGHT. 


[E    NONPAREIL 


PATENTED  AUGUST  17th,  1869. 

This  invention  operates  on  a  principle  entirety  new..  Unlike  all  other  inventions  where  the  light 
is  dependent  upon  the  heat  of  the  Brass  Plate  or  Burner,  by  a  very  simple  contrivance  of  a  small 
jet  underneath,  the  fluid  is  converted  into  a  perfect  gas  before  it  reaches  the  nib,  (which  is  a  regular 
gas  tip),  and  Churns  through  it  exactly  the  same  as  any  city  (or  coal)  gas,  and  equal  to  a  six  foot 
burner,  at  one-eighth  the  cost—  just  as  steady  and  noiseless  ;  in  fact  is  not  unlike  It  in  any  respect. 
All  objections  of  flickering  and  noise  to  other  burners  is  obviated  in  this,  and  does  not  blow  out  as 
easily,  for  the  heating  jet  is  protected  from  wind  by  a  small  tube. 


Consumes  about  forty  per  cent,  less  fluid  than  any  other  Portable  Gas  Light,  and  Is  certainly  the 
most  economical,  best  and  safest  light  ever  invented. 

NO    POSSIBLE   CHANCE    FOR    CAS    LEAKS   OR    EXPLOSIONS, 

As  gas  is  generated  only  as  fast  as  consumed. 

They  are,  without  exception,  the  MOST  COMPLETE  SAFETY  LAMP  now  in  use,  and  supply 
a  want  long  felt  —  a  light  to  take  the  place  of  city,  or  coal  gas,  which  is  ruinously  expensive,  and! 
kerosene  oil  lights  are  too  miserable  and  dangerous  for  any  one,  and  cost  four  times  as   much  be- 
sides the  breakage  of  chimneys,  the  intolerable  nuisance  of  trimming,  cleaning,  etc., 

wjryjsro  vx"  TVXCK    oxt.    crjsrjrarjvjK*-, 

The  Lamps  and  Fixtures  are  made  entirely  of  metal  consequently  can  not  break,  and  are- 
adapted  to  all  places  where  light  is  needed.  One  of  the  most  important  features  is  its  application 
to  STREET  LAMPS,  which  can  be  set  on  wooden  posts,  at  any  point  desired  at  a  cost  not  to  ex-- 
ceed  (for  lamp  and  post)  the  cost  of  an  ordinary  iron  lamp  post  alone. 

Any  party  purchasing  the  right  of  this  invention  for  a  State  will  be  sure  to  have  all  the  busi-- 
ness  he  can  handle,  and  a  paying  investment. 

LARGE    PROFITS   AND    NO    COMPETITION. 

Lamps  and  Fixtures  of  all  styles,  manufactured  in  the  very  best  manner  and  sold  at  wholesale 
and  retail  at  the  lowest  possible  rates. 

For  State  and  County  Bights  or  any  information,  apply  to  or  address 


.A.- 


UTo.    28 


INDIANAPOLIS, 

(20) 


INDIANA.. 


306 


HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 


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BROWNING  &  SLOAN, 

DRUGGISTS 


AND  DEALERS  IN 


PAINTS,  OILS,  WINDOW  GLASS,  GLASS  WARE, 
Dye-Stuffs,   Spices,    Brushes   of  all   kinds,    Combs. 

FINE  PERFUMERY,  AND  TOILET  ARTICLES, 
SURGICAL    INSTRUMENTS,    FROM    THE    BEST    MANUFACTURERS, 

T13ES.XTSSE!S    OIF    A.XjXs    3K.IIST,T>S; 

Suspensories,  Elastic  St«ck«ips, 


And  ell  articles  csually  found  in  a  First-Class  Brug  House,  and  in  variety  and  detail  not  surpassed 
by  any  House  in  the  country,  and  at  lowest  figures. 


APOTHECARIES'   HALL, 

and    9    East    "Washing-ton    Street* 

INDIANAPOLIS,   IND, 


308'  HOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

INDIANAPOLIS    MANUFACTURES. 

EABLT  MAKTTFACTURE8. 

The  earliest  manufactures  of  Indianapolis,  as  of  most  new  Western  towns,  were 
rather  assistants  to,  than  substitutes  for,  home-made  work.  The  mills  that  ground 
grain  and  sawed  lumber  frequently  also  made  woollen  rolls  for  the  farmer's  wife's 
spinning  and  weaving.  The  first  of  these  belonged  to  William  Townsend  and  Earl 
Pierce,  and  was  connected  with  the  grist-mill  of  Andrew  Wilson  and  Daniel  Yandes, 
on  the  Bayou.  It  was  put  in  operation  first  in  June,  1823.  But  one  set  of  machin- 
ery could  hardly  supply  all  the  work  needed  for  the  stockings  and  woolsey  "wam- 
uses,"  coverlets  and  dresses  of  a  community  which  made  most  of  the  material  for 
its  own  clothes.  Other  carding  machines  were  set  at  work;  some,  like  the  first,  in 
connection  with  grist-mills,  others  by  themselves — these  latter  being  usually  run  by 
horse  power.  As  late  as  1832  or  '33,  the  ruins  of  one  of  these  latter  stood  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  Illinois  and  Maryland  streets,  and  another  was  at  work  at  a 
still  later  date  on  Kentucky  avenue,  about  where  the  old  Tobacco  Factory  afterwards 
stood.  The  addition  of  spinning  machinery  marked  the  introduction  of  what  may 
be  fairly  called  "manufactures."  This  was  the  effect  of  the  impulse  created  by  the 
canal,  though  the  Old  Steam  Mill  Company  of  1832  may  have  contemplated  some 
such  development  if  it  had  succeeded  better  at  the  outset. 

In  1839,  Scudder  &  Hannaman  built  a  mill  on  the  canal  "race,"  at  the  foot  of 
Washington  street,  and  in  a  little  while,  (if  not  at  first,)  added  spinning  and 
weaving  to  carding,  and  really  "manufactured"  as  well  as  did  custom  carding  and 
spinning.  Nathaniel  West,  about  the  same  time,  established  his  mill  at  what  was- 
called  Cotton  Town,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Michigan  road  over  the  canal,  doing  much 
the  same  kind  of  work,  but  with  an  added  attempt  at  cotton  spinning. 

The  first  of  these  establishments  passed  into  the  hands  of  Merritt  &  Coughlen 
in  1844  or  1845,  and,  under  the  railroad  impulse,  has  developed  into  the  large  and 
flourishing  mill  near  the  same  site,  notwithstanding  the  "backset"  of  afire  in  1851. 

West's  mill  made  Cotton  Town  a  busy  place  for  some  years,  but  cotton  spinning 
was  a  little  too  long  a  step  for  the  time,  and  though  Mr.  Yount,  in  1849,  still  kept 
up  the  woolen  business,  there  was  a  steady  decline  of  the  prosperity  of  this  prom- 
ising suburb. 

In  1847,  G.  W.  and  C.  E.  Geisendorff  leased  the  old  steam  mill,  and  renewed 
the  wool  manufacture  there ;  but  it  was  not  a  promising  business  at  the  start.  Sub- 
sequently they  built  the  frame  portion  of  their  present  mill  on  the  canal  "race," 
and,  prosperity  following  perseverance,  they  added  the  larger  brick  portion. 

In  1830,  or  thereabout,  the  late  James  Blake  built  a  little  house  on  the  high 
ground  on  Alabama  street,  near  South,  for  the  "manufacture"  of  ginseng — that  is, 
its  preparation — for  the  Philadelphia  market,  whence  it  was  shipped  to  China. 
This  root,  which  is  a  favorite  condiment  and  medicine  in  China,  used  to  abound  in 
the  woods  about  the  city,  especially  in  the  vicinity  of  the  grave  yard  pond  and 
back  of  Samuel  Merrill's  residence,  and  was  collected  by  the  boys  and  sold  to  drug- 
gists long  after  Mr.  Blake's  house  was  abandoned.  It  has  now  disappeared  almost 
entirely,  even  from  the  woods  where  no  innovation  of  city  influence  has  reached. 
The  old  "sang  factory,"  as  it  was  called,  was  a  noted  place  for  shooting  doves  before 
the  railroads  cut  up  and  built  up  that  part  of  the  city. 

In  1834,  John  S.  Barnes  and  Williamson  Maxwell  began  making  linseed  oil  in 
an  old  stable,  or  a  building  very  like  it,  on  the  alley  south  of  Maryland  street,  just 
in  the  rear  of  the  present  Fifth  Ward  school  house.  They  sold  to  Scudder  &  Han- 
naman the  year  after,  and  the  latter  moved  the  business  to  their  new  mill  in  1839. 


MITCHELL  &  RAMMELSBERG, 


Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealers  in 


Nos,  41  And  43  SOUTH  MERIDIAN  STREET, 


INDIANAPOLIS,  INTO. 


CHARLES  MAYEB.  (ESTABUSHHD  184O.)  WILLIAM  HAUEISEN. 


IMPORTERS  AND  JOBBERS  OF 


TOYS,  NOTIONS,  AND  FANCY  GOODS, 


Children's  Carriages,  Fancy  Willow  Ware  &c., 


29  WEST  WASHINGTON  STREET, 


EOLLOWATS 

A  long  horizontal  log,  working  against  another,  as  a  lever,  was  the  press  used. 
"When  hydraulic  pressure  came  into  use,  Mr.  Hannaman  found  that  the  Cincinnati 
manufacturers  could  buy  his  "cake"  and  make  oil  of  it  at  a  lower  price  than  he  could 
sell  the  first  "pressing"  for,  and  he  "quit." 

About  the  same  time,  and  near  the  same  place  that  oil  was  first  made,  Frank 
Devinney  carried  on  the  first  mattress  making  establishment. 

About  the  same  time,  John  L.  Young  established  the  first  brewery,  on  Mary- 
land street,  just  west  of  the  line  of  the  canal. 

The  first  manufacturing  of  tobacco  was  done  by  a  man  generally  known  as 
"  Bill "  Bagwell,  in  a  little  cabin  on  the  South-west  corner  of  Maryland  and  Ten- 
nessee streets.  He  made  only  cigars,  and  these  of  the  "common,"  or  "unsoaked" 
kind.  This  was  as  early  as  1830,  possibly  earlier. 

In  1835,  Scudder  &  Hannaman  began  the  manufacture  of  tobacco,  on  a  con- 
siderable scale,  in  a  building  on  Kentucky  avenue,  below  Maryland  street,  in  the 
rear  of  'Squire  Henry  Bradley's  house.  They  employed  quite  a  number  of  boys  in 
"  stemming"  or  "stripping,"  and  several  cigar  and  "  chewing"  hands.  The  cigars- 
were  all  made  of  soaked  tobacco,  and  called  "melee."  The  chewing  tobacco  was 
mostly  the  heavy  black  plug,  once  so  well  known  in  the  West,  but  now  driven  out 
by  "navy"  and  a  dozen  other  varieties  of  cheap  stun0.  But  "fine  cut"  was  made 
occasionally,  as  well  as  "twist,"  and  smoking  tobacco  was  still  more  frequently 
made.  It  was  chiefly  sold  in  the  north  and  along  the  lake,  and  wagoned  away. 
It  was  raised  in  Marion,  Morgan,  Johnson,  Hendricks,  and  Bartholomew  counties. 
In  September,  1838,  the  sweat-house — a  little,  close,  wooden  building  for  heating 
the  heavy  plug  tobacco  after  pressing — caught  fire,  and  it  and  the  whole  structure 
adjoining  were  burned  down,  causing  a  total  loss — for  in  those  days  nobody  insured 
anything — of  $10,000.  The  establishment  was  sold  to  John  Cain  in  1843,  and  was 
carried  on  by  him  till  his  failure  a  few  years  after,  when  Kobert  L.  Walpole  took  it 
and  conducted  it  on  the  part  of  the  creditors  for  a  short  time.  Then  the  tobacco 
manufacture  disappeared  from  the  city  till  it  was  renewed  by  George  F.  Meyer,  in 
July  of  1850.  It  is  now  a  very  important  interest. 

Pork  packing,  another  interest  still  more  important  than  the  last,  was  firsi 
attempted  about  1835,  by  James  Bradley  and  one  or  two  associates.  They  bought 
slaughtered  hogs  of  the  farmers,  and  cut  and  cured  them  in  an  old  log  building 
on  Maryland  street,  where  the  residence  of  L.  B.  Wilson  now  stands.  It  had 
formerly  been  the  pottery  of  George  Myers.  The  speculation  did  not  pay,  and  no 
more  was  done  in  the  pork  trade  till  1841,  when  John  H.  Wright,  (the  first  "cash 
store"  man,)  who  had  come  from  Kichmond  some  time  before,  bought  slaughtered 
hogs  at  his  store  for  "half  cash,  half  goods,"  and  in  connection  with  his  father-in- 
law,  Jeremiah  Mansur,  and  brother-in-law,  William  Mansur,  packed  them,  in  an 
old  frame  building  that  had  once  been  the  blacksmith  shop  of  James  Van  Blaricum, 
on  the  northeast  corner  of  Maryland  and  Meridian  streets,  the  "Opera  House"  site. 
They  continued  in  this  fashion  of  business  quite  successfully  till  1847,  when,  the 
completion  of  the  Madison  railroad  opening  new  facilities  for  shipping  their  pro- 
duct, they  concluded  to  enlarge,  and,  to  speak  appropriately,  "go  the  whole  hog," 
killing  as  well  as  packing.  They  built  a  packing  house  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Madison  depot,  and  a  slaughter  house  at  the  west  end  of  the  National  road  bridge, 
and  hauled  the  dead  hogs  from  one  to  the  other.  Mr.  Isaiah  Mansur  joined  them  in 
that  year,  and  continued  till  1854-5,  when  William  and  Isaiah  joined  together,  and 
Mr.  J.  C.  Ferguson  and  Frank  Mansur  joined  Jeremiah,  (Mr.  Wright  had  died 
some  time  before),  and  formed  two  establishments- 


.  IF. 


oo, 


AND  AGENTS  FOE 


1KB- 

WE  AKE  CONSTANTLY  IN  BECEIPT  OF  THE  NEW  PATTERNS  IN 

CORAL  SETS,  ROMAN  GOLD  SETS,  ENAMELED  AND  GOLD  SETS. 

NEW  STYLES  IN 
Necte.   Chains    and    Lockets,    Opera,    GS-uard    and    "Vest    Chains. 


We  have  the  Largest  Stock,  and  are  Selling  at  Lower  Prices  than  any  other  House  in  the  City. 


SOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS,. 

In  1847  Benjamin  I.  Blythe  and  Edwin  Hedderly  built  the  house  north  of  the 
bridge,  on  the  Fall  Creek  race,  and  killed  and  packed  for  some  years.  Elisha  Me" 
Neeley  and  Mr.  McTaggart  were  concerned  with  them  a  part  of  the  time.  Mr. 
Hedderly  carried  on  the  manufacture  of  lard  oil  here  in  the  latter  part  of  his  occu- 
pation of  the  premises.  In  1854  W.  &  I.  Mansur  bought  this  house,  and  went  on 
successfully  till  they  quit  business  in  1861.  They  had  a  severe  fire  in  their  smoke 
house  m  1858,  in  which  a  great  deal  of  meat  was  lost.  "Wheat,  Fletcher  &  Coffin 
have  this  house  now.  In  1852-3,  Macy  &  McTaggart  established  a  house  on  the 
river  near  the  Terre  Haute  railroad  bridge.  It  was  torn  down  some  years  ago. 
Tweed  &  Gulick  began,  in  1854-5,  in  a  house  just  north  of  the  last ;  were  succeeded 
in  a  short  time  by  Messrs.  Patterson,  who  built  a  brick  to  pack  beeves ;  and  they 
•were  succeeded  by  the  present  superb  structure  and  business  of  J.  C.  Ferguson  & 
Co.  Col.  Allen  May  began  killing  and  packing  in  1855,  in  a  large  building  which 
he  erected  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  near  the  Crawfordsville  ford.  He  soon 
failed,  and  his  house  was  burned  in  1858.  In  1864,  Messrs.  Kingan — as  related  in 
the  general  history  —  built  their  house,  then,  and  probably  still,  the  largest  single 
building  of  the  kind  in  the  country.  It  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  spring 
of  1865,  with  a  loss  of  §240,000.  It  was  re-built  promptly,  two  attic  stories  lower 
than  before,  but  still  a  large  and  impressive  structure. 

The  pork  packed  by  Wright  and  the  Mansurs,  till  1848,  was  shipped  on  flat 
boats  to  New  Orleans.  For  some  years  this  now-forgotten  mode  of  transportation 
was  no  trifling  item  of  the  city's  commerce.  The  boats  were  built  here  and  at 
Broad  Ripple,  and  sent  down  the  river  in  the  spring  freshets,  or  whenever  there  was- 
a  rise  in  the  river.  They  were  forty  or  fifty  feet  long,  ten  or  fifteen  wide,  and  six 
or  seven  deep,  and  would  carry  a  pretty  good  tonnage.  They  were  covered  in  their 
whole  length,  except  sometimes  a  little  section  at  one  end  where  the  "  cabin  "  was. 
They  were  steered  by  a  huge  oar  at  each  end,  and  helped  along  by  another  on  each 
side.  Arrived  at  their  destination,  they  were  sold  for  lumber,  sometimes  very  ad- 
vabtageously.  The  great  peril  of  their  navigation  was  a  dam,  and  about  one  in 
every  four  would  "break  its  back,"  or  be  ruined  in  some  other  way,  at  the  Waverly 
dam.  A  pilot  was  valuable  till  the  Ohio  river  was  reached;  and  "  Old  Beth  (Bar- 
tholomew) Bridges,"  as  he  was  called,  was  much  in  request  for  this  service.  Besides 
pork,  baled  hay  was  was  sometimes  shipped  in  boats ;  and  one  year  "Wm.  H.  Jones 
(of  Coburn  &  Jones)  and  Cadwallader  Ramsey  sent  a  cargo  of  chickens  to  New 
Orleans.  The  hay  was  pressed  in  two  or  three  places  in  the  city,  chiefly  in  a  pres» 
north  west  of  the  State  House,  owned,  if  the  writer  is  not  mistaken,  by  Dr.  G.  W. 
Mears. 

Somewhere  about  1838  or  1840,  Nicholas  McCarty,  Sr.,  began  the  manufacture 
of  hemp,  growing  most  of  "the  stock  himself,  on  the  "Bayou  farm."  The  "rotting 
vats"  were  excavated  between  the  canal  and  the  creek,  some  little  distance  below 
the  present  line  of  Eay  street.  The  remains  of  them  are  still  visible — conspicuous 
even — to  the  stroller  in  that  vicinity.  A  little  frame  mill  for  breaking  and  hackling 
the  rotted  hemp  was  built  at  the  bluff  near  the  creek,  and  the  "race''  of  it  can  still 
be  seen.  The  enterprise  was  not  profitable  enough  to  justify  a  long  continuance, 
and  it  was  abandoned  after  a  few  years. 

A  dense  wood  at  this  time  covered  that  portion  of  the  city,  except  a  small  clear- 
ing about  and  below  the  hemp  works,  and  a  break  in  the  canal,  near  Ray  street, 
poured  a  considerable  stream  into  the  western  part  of  this  woods  for  a  long  time, 
making  a  regular  swamp  and  lake  of  it,  and  covering  a  long  line  of  the  creek  bluff 
with  little  cascades. 


STEWART  &  MORGAN, 


loesae  D 


AND    DEALERS    IN 


FRENCH  AND  ENGLISH  PLATE  GLASS, 


FXTTSBUJFIG    WINDOW    GLASS, 


-AND- 


No.  40  East  Washington  Street, 


314  HOLLOWArS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  first  mills,  as  noticed  in  the  general  history,  were  those  of  Linton,  for  saw- 
ing, on  Fall  creek,  near  the  City  Hospital,  and  of  Isaac  Wilson,  for  grinding,  on 
Fall  creek  bayou,  northwest  of  the  old  Military  Ground.  Yandes  &  Wilson,  in  1823, 
built  a  second  grist  mill  on  the  river  bayou.  These  seem  to  have  sufficed  till  the  old 
steam  mill  was  erected  and  put  in  operation,  in  1832.  After  that  the  Patterson 
mill,  formerly  Wilson's,  on  Fall  creek  bayou,  seems  to  have  done  most  of  the  grind- 
ing for  home  use,  and  no  attempt  was  made  at  any  other  work  till  the  canal  was 
opened,  or  later.  Then  Nathaniel  West  built  his  mill  at  Cotton  Town,  and  later,  John 
Carlisle  built  his,  on  the  canal  race,  near  Washington  street.  This  was  burned  in 
1856,  but  immediately  rebuilt.  Robert  Underbill  built  another,  in  1851,  on  the 
bluff  of  the  "glade"  or  prairie,  south  of  the  donation,  at  the  "wooden  locks,"  and 
ran  it  by  water  from  the  canal.  It  is  still  in  operation,  though  considerably  dilap- 
idated. In  1848,  Morris  Morris  and  his  sons  built  a  steam  mill  on  Meridian  street, 
at  the  Union  Depot,  on  the  site  of  Fitzgibbon's  building,  which  was  entirely  destroyed 
by  fire  in  1851.  Of  the  mills  now  in  operation  more  is  said  in  another  place. 

In  1838,  William  Sheets  established  the  first  paper  mill  here,  on  the  canal  at 
the  Market  street  crossing,  and  conducted  it  with  great  success  for  many  years.  It 
is  now  abandoned.  Its  successors  are  elsewhere  noticed. 

Besides  the  manufactory  of  ginseng  and  hemp,  which  were  among  the  earliest 
enterprises  that  have  never  been  renewed,  there  was  another  that  flourished  for  a 
time,  and  disappeared  permanently.  That  was  plane  making.  This  was  carried  on 
by  Messrs.  Young  &  Pottage,  in  what  is  now  Hubbard's  Block,  in  connection  with 
their  hardware  store,  but  the  work  was  done  by  Mr.  John  J.  Nash.  This  was  about 
the  year  1837. 

Pottery  establishments  were  early  put  in  operation  here.  One  by  Geo.  Myers, 
on  the  corner  of  Maryland  and  Tennessee  streets ;  another  on  the  corner  between 
Kentucky  avenue  and  Illinois  street,  by  Robert  Brenton,  which  was  displaced  by 
the  old  State  Bank;  and  a  third  was  maintained  for  a  long  time  on  the  corner  of 
Washington  and  New  Jersey  streets,  in  the  deep  cut  of  the  ravine. 

The  early  tanneries  were  those  of  Yandes  &  Wilkins,  on  Alabama  street,  just 
where  Maryland  ran  into  it,  but  did  not  cross, — the  old  bark  mill  and  building  of 
this  tannery  were  long  visible  near  the  site  of  the  present  Station  House, — and  that 
of  some  one  whom  the  writer  cannot  now  recall,  on  Pennsylvania  street,  on  the  site 
of  Haugh's  iron  railing  factory. 

The  first  soap  factory  was  built  about  the  year  1838  or  '40,  on  the  canal,  near 
McCarty  street.  Mr.  Protzman,  the  leader  of  the  old  City  Band,  conducted  it  awhile. 

David  Main  and  a  Mr.  Spears,  two  Scotchmen,  did  the  first  regular  stone  cutting 
here,  on  the  site  of  Blake's  block,  about  the  year  1835.  They  were  succeeded  by 
Peter  Francis,  on  the  west  corner  of  Kentucky  avenue  and  Maryland  street. 

Christopher  Kellum  was  the  first  saddler,  coming  here  in  1823.  Jas.  Sulgrove, 
his  apprentice,  succeeded  him,  followed  later  by  Isaac  Roll,  "Wm.  Eckert,  and  J.  J 
Pugh. 

George  Norwood  was  the  first  wagon-maker,  1822.  His  shop  was  on  Illinois 
street,  on  the  site  of  the  Exchange  building.  Arnold  Lashley  did  wagon  and  car- 
riage work  on  Pennsylvania  street,  on  the  site  of  the  Post  Office,  till  1836,  when  he 
killed  Collins,  and  had  to  leave.  Mr.  Fultz  then  took  it,  and  soon  after  Hiram 
and  Edward  Gaston  established  themselves  here  in  carriage  making  exclusively. 

Amos  Hanway  was  the  first  cooper,  1821;  Wilkes  Reagan,  the  first  butcher, 
1821 ;  John  Shunk,  the  first  hatter,  1826 ;  Andrew  Byrne,  the  first  tailor,  1820 ; 
Matthias  Nowland,  the  first  brick-layer,  1820;  his  widow  Elizabeth,  the  first  board- 


"TRADE  PALACE. 


N.  R.  SMITH  &  Co.,  Importers  and  Dealers  in  every 
description  of  Dry  Goods  adapted  to  the  Wants  of  all 
Classes. 

Keep  a  Resident  buyer  in  New  York. 
Buy  exclusively  for  Cash. 

Keep  a  Choice  Fresh  Stock  at  all  times. 

On  our  second  floor  we  keep  a  large  stock  of  Shawls, 
Cloaks  and  Suits,  and  Manufacture  to  order  Cloaks, 
Suits  and  Dresses ;  Also,  Ladies5  Underwear  and  Misses' 
and  Children's  Dresses. 

Special  attention  given  to  Bridal  Outfits, 

We  also  keep  a  large  and  attractive  stock  of  Milli- 
nery and  Straw  Goods,  Flowers  and  Feathers. 

All  our  Work  Warranted,  and  our  Prices  in  all  cases 
will  be  as  low  as  at  any  other  House. 

We  invite  you  to  our  Store,  feeling  fully  convinced 
that  you  will  patronize  us. 

N.    R.    SMITH    &   CO., 

PROPRIETORS  OF  THE 

One-Price,  Wideawake,  Systematic  Trade  Palaces 

26  AND  28  WEST  WASHINGTON  STREET, 

INDIANAPOLIS,  IND. 


nOLLOWAT'B  INDIANAPOLIS. 

ing  house  keeper,  1823;  James  B.  Hall,  the  first  carpenter,  1820;  Isaac  Lynch,  the 
first  shoemaker,  1821;  William  Holmes,  the  first  tinner,  1822;  Conrad  Brussel,  the 
first  baker,  1820;  Milo  R.  Davis,  the  first  plasterer,  1820;  Caleb  Scodder,  the  first 
cabinet  maker,  1821;  Henry  and  Samuel  Davis,  the  first  chair  makers,  1820;  Isaac 
Wilson,  the  first  miller,  1820 ;  George  Pogue.  the  first  blacksmith,  1819  or  '20 — soon 
followed  by  James  Van  Blaricum;  James  Linton,  the  first  mill  wright,  1821;  Na- 
thaniel Bolton,  the  first  printer,  1821;  George  Smith,  the  first  book  binder,  1821; 
Daniel  Yandes,  the  first  tanner,  1821;  John  Ambrozene,  the  first  clock  and  watch 
maker,  1825;  William  P.  Murphy,  the  first  dentist,  1829;  John  Smither,  the  first 
gun  smith,  (the  writer  thinks,)  but  Samuel  Beck  was  early  in  the  work,  1833,  and 
keeps  at  it;  David  Mallory,  a  mulatto,  the  first  barber,  1821 ;  Samuel  S.  Kooker, 
the  first  house  and  sign  painter,  1821. 

The  most  important  industry  has  been  deferred  to  this  point,  as  its  considera- 
tion leads  directly  to  the  manufacturing  facilities  of  the  city  —  the  manufacture  of 
iron.  As  early  as  1832,  R.  A.  McPherson  &  Co.  established  a  foundry  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river,  near  the  end  of  the  present  National  Eoad  bridge,  and  maintained 
it  for  some  years.  In  1835  Robert  Underbill  and  John  Wood  established  another 
on  Pennsylvania  street,  just  north  of  University  Square,  and  kept  up  the  casting, 
at  irregular  intervals,  of  small  hollow  ware,  plough  points,  mill  castings,  and  the 
like,  for  twenty  years,  when  Mr.  Underbill  built  a  large  house  on  Pennsylvania 
street,  near  the  creek,  and  started  into  a  business  on  a  scale  commensurate  with  the 
growth  of  the  city ;  but  he  failed,  and  his  building  was  first  used  as  a  hominy  mill, 
and  then  burned.  A  foundry  was  built  north  west  of  the  State  House,  in  1837  or  '38, 
but  was  never  used,  except  as  a  theatre.  From  this  time  the  iron  manufacture 
ceases  to  belong  to  the  early  history  of  the  city,  and  must  concern  itself  either  with 
existing  establishments,  or  their  immediate  predecessors. 

The  iron  interest,  as  above  remarked,  is  now  the  most  important  in  the  city, 
and  bids  fair  to  increase  in  importance,  not  only  with  the  growth  of  the  city,  but  far 
in  advance  even  of  that  rapid  development.  The  facilities  for  this  manufacture 
here,  are  unsurpassed ;  and  a  brief  statement  of  these,  and  the  manufacturing  pros- 
pects of  the  city,  is  appended. 

THE    PROSPECTS    OF    THE    CITY. 

It  is  not  placed  beyond  the  reach  of  mortals  to  prophesy  in  probabilities.  By 
combining  facts,  we  may  draw  conclusions  that  will  approach  the  value  of  prophe- 
cies in  proportion  to  the  range  of  facts  and  the  correctness  of  the  deductions  from 
them.  In  this  fashion  of  vaticination,  let  us  see  what  the  future  promises  for  In- 
dianapolis. She  started  a  feeble  inland  village,  planted  in  the  midst  of  a  wilder- 
ness and  surrounded  by  swamps.  She  had  no  roads  and  no  navigable  water 
courses.  She  was  cut  off  from  all  the  means  by  which  prosperity  is  attained  or 
commerce  established.  She  had  no  advantages  of  situation  or  of  natural  resources. 
Yet  she  has  grown  to  be  probably  the  largest  entirely  inland  city  in  the  Union. 
She  had  a  population,  by  the  last  complete  census,  of  51,200,  with  a  development  of 
trade  and  manufactures  so  great  and  so  deeply  rooted,  that  it  is  inconceivable  that 
it  should  not  grow  at  least  as  rapidly  as  it  has  grown.  The  means  by  which  this 
result  has  been  effected  are  as  fully  within  her  command  now  as  ever.  Her  central 
position  in  the  State,  or  rather  in  the  North- West,  brought  to  her  from  all  direc- 
tions the  new  lines  of  communication  opened  by  the  locomotive,  and  in  these  she 
has  found  the  advantages  by  the  energetic  and  sagacious  improvement  of  which 


HERMAN  LIEBEB.  CHABLES  KCEHNE. 

.    LUBBER   &o   CO., 

Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealers  In 


ARTISTS'    AND    WAX    MATERIALS, 


ALBUMS,  STEREOSCOPES  &  VIEWS, 
ART  EMPORIUM, 

No.  60  East  Washington  Street, 

One  Door  East  of  Odd  Fellows'  Hall. 

INDIANAPOLIS,  IND. 
BSJ~  Send  for  Catalogues  and  Price  Lists. 


oo., 


Manufacturers  of 


And  Wholesale  Dealers  in 


Tin  Plate,  Tinners'  Slock,  Tools  and  Machines, 

IRON  FRONTS,  VERANDAHS,  SUGAR  MILLS, 

WINDOW  CAPS,  GAS-LAMP  POSTS,  DRAG  SAWS, 

WROUGHT  and  CAST-IRON  STEAM  and  WATER  HORSE-POWERS,  and 

GRATINGS,  PIPES,  MAY'S  FIRE-PROOFING. 

GO    Etist    "WasliingftoML  Street, 
INDIANAPOLIS. 


313  BOLLOWAT 8  INDIANAPOLIS. 

she  has  attained  her  position.  These  are  the  work  of  man's  intelligence  and  energy, 
and  are,  therefore,  in  no  way  dependent  on  the  accidents  or  changes  of  nature. 
They  are  as  easily  kept  as  got,  and  mote,  for  as  population  attracts  population  and 
business  attracts  business,  the  concentration  of  railways  attracts  or  compels  the  ad' 
dition  of  railways,  when  new  outlets  to  markets  are  needed.  She  will,  therefore, 
in  all  probability,  continue  to  grow  from  the  roots  already  sent  out,  as  she  has 
grown  in  sending  them  out.  But  to  this  probability  must  be  added  others  of  even 
greater  promise.  No  city  in  the  West,  or  even  in  the  world,  offers  such  opportu- 
nities for  illimitable  and  easy  expansion.  There  is  not  a  foot  of  ground  within  ten 
miles,  in  any  direction,  that  cannot  easily  be  built  upon  and  added  to  her  area. 
Cheap  lots  are  therefore  possible  for  more  years  and  growth  than  would  suffice  to 
make  her  as  big  as  London.  There  is  no  cramping  of  hills,  or  streams,  or  un- 
healthy localities,  to  huddle  up  settlements  in  any  quarter  and  raise  real  estate  to 
figures  inaccessible  to  poor  men.  Her  health  is  not  surpassed  by  that  of  any  city 
in  the  country,  or  any  country.  There  is  nothing  in  that  direction  to  offset  the  ad- 
vantages offered  by  a  flourishing  town,  with  an  inexhaustible  area  of  cheap  building 
lots.  Her  schools  are  equal  to  any  in  the  country,  East  or  West,  and  have  been 
suppported  with  unfailing  liberality  and  unanimity.  Her  public  improvements 
are  in  good  part  completed,  or  advancing  to  completion,  so  that  the  heaviest  ex- 
penses of  fitting  her  for  comfortable  and  profitable  residences  have  been  incurred, 
and  will  not  need  to  be  renewed.  Thus  she  offers  the  four  best  inducements  to  the 
emigrant — cheap  residence,  ample  means  of  education,  light  taxes  and  assured 
health.  Without  these,  her  unequaled  railroad  advantages  might  have  left,  might 
still  leave,  her  merely  a  flourishing  town,  but  not  a  large  commercial  and  manu- 
facturing center. 

But  to  all  the'^dvantages  enumerated  there  must  added  another  equal  to  either, 
if  not  to  all  together.  This  is  the  city's  vicinity  to  the  best  coal  field  in  the  world 
for  all  classes  of  manufactures.  Fuel  is  the  prime  necessity  of  manufacturing  in 
these  days,  and  is  likely  to  remain  so  until  electricity  or  Ericsson's  concentrated  sun- 
light replaces  it.  Kaw  material  goes  to  power  to  be  worked  up.  The  philosophy 
of  this  movement  need  not  be  considered  here.  It  is  enough,  in  tnis  connection,  to 
state  the  fact.  Power  exists  here  in  such  abundance  as  all  the  developments  of 
England  cannot  equal.  Within  two  or  three  hours  run  of  us  lies  a  coal  field  of 
nearly  eight  thousand  square  miles.  We  enter  it  by  four,  and  soon  will  by  five, 
different  lines  of  railway,  making  a  monopoly,  and  consequently  a  heavy  cost  of 
transportation,  impossible.  The  dip  of  the  strata  is  to  the  west,  thus  turning  up 
ttoe  outcrop  in  the  directipn  nearest  to  ^s,  and  making  that  part  which  is  most  ea- 
sily mined  also  the  most  easily  reached.  The  seams,  in  many  cases,  are  mined  by 
drifting  in  from  hill  sides,  sometimes  by  shallow  shafts,  sometimes  by  merely  strip- 
ping off  a  few  feet  of  the  surface  soil.  The  ground  above  is  all  capable  of  cultiva- 
tion and  can  support  all  the  men,  and  more,  necessary  to  work  them.  Mining, 
therefore,  can  be  carried  on  at  the  lowest  possible  cost.  But  more  than  this,  the 
character  of  the  coal  itself  increases  the;faciHty  and  consequent  cheapness  of  mi- 
ning. It  is  soft  and  easily  broken ;  its  laminations  are  easily  separated ;  it  breaks 
easily  across  the  line  of  stratification — in  fact,  is  seamed  with  lines  of  breakage 
crossing  those  of  cleavage.  It  can  ttius  be  knocked  out  of  the  seam  in  large,  square 
masses,  or  chunks,  as  one  might  knock  bricks  out  .of  a  dry  piled  wall.  This  again 
assures  easy  mining.  It  is  almost  entirely  free  from  the  dangerous  gases  that  pro- 
duce such  fearful  calamities  in  deeper  mines  of  different  coal.  It  is  not  saying  too 


THE  SINGER, 

THE  STANDARD  SEWING  MACHINE  OF  THE  WORLD, 

OVIEIR,   55O,OOO   IIST   T7SE- 

Over  200,000  Machines  are  now  being  sold  annually . 

THUS 


Is  the  only  Company  in  the  world  that  manufactures  Machines  for  all  kinds  of  work. 


Every  Family  Should  Have  a  Singer  Sewing  Machine. 


0 

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e  to  3  B  H 

g_  »  B  Q,  tr 

P  S,  E  o  8 

5°  °5  S-  5-  * 

2.  ts  -  J-  S 

^.  rt  H  «* 


. 

si 

B    a   5 


w     H 

e«  s.  a 

2.  S   g. 

a.  o>   -T 

-  " 


Q   S 

:  A 

I  o 
o 

n 

0 

f! 

Sold  for  cash,  good  promissory  notes,  or  on  monthly  payments  to  suit  the  circumstances  of  the 
rich  and  poor  alike.  t 

The  samp  qualities  which  reader  our  ne^w  Machine  so  admirable  and  e6i0fbn;t  for  use  in  the  fiim- 
ily  also  commend  it  as  indispensable  for  every  grade  of  light  manufacturing. 

For  Shoe  and  Gaiter  Fitters,  Seamstresses,  Tailors,  Manufacturers  of  Shirt  Collars,  Shirts, 
Cloaks,  Mantles,  Clothing,  Hats,  Caps,  Corsets,  Linen  and  Silk  Goods,  Umbrellas,  Parasols,  etc., 
it  is  without  rival. 

In  addition  to  the  Family  Machines,  our  machines  for  the  use  of  manufacturers  of  all  kinds  are 
indisputably  superior  to  all  others.  Having  machines  expressly  for  Carriage  Trimmers,  Saddlers, 
Shoemakers,  Tailors,  etc.,  etc. 

JOSSELYN,  BROS.  &  CO., 
NO.   74  WEST    WASHINGTON   STREET, 

(In  Bates  House  Block,) 

INDIANAPOLIS,   IND. 

Exclusive  dealers  in  the  above  machines  for  the  States  of  Michigan  and  Indiana,  Ontafrio,  Cana- 
da, Northwestern  Ohio  and  Southern  Illinois.  We  have  good  openings  for  good,  reliable  and  ener- 
getic men. 

N.  B. — All  machines  needing  repairs  or  adjustment  should  be  sent  to  the  Indianapolis  Office, 


320  HOLLOW  ATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

much  to  say  that  no  coal  has  yet  been  found  anywhere  in  the  world  so  easily  acces- 
sible, so  cheaply  mined,  or  so  free  from  danger  to  the  miner.  These  facts  alone  are 
enough  to  assure  our  city  all  the  advantages  that  belong  to  the  possession  of  inex- 
haustible fuel  and  illimitable  mechanical  power. 

But  there  are  other  facts  besides  these  that  "make  assurance  doubly  sure." 
This  coal,  called  "Block  Coal" — from  the  peculiarity  above  alluded  to  of  breaking 
into  blocks — is  really  a  sort  of  mineral  charcoal.  It  contains  no  sulphur,  or  so 
little  that  no  analysis  has  been  able  to  detect  more  than  a  trace  of  it.  It  contains 
enough  naptha  to  kindle  almost  instantaneously,  and  it  burns  without  caking,  or 
melting  and  running  together,  as  most  bituminous  coals  do.  These  two  quali- 
tiee — freedom  from  sulphur  and  burning  without  caking — every  man  accustomed 
to  using  coal  for  steam,  or  for  smelting  or  working  iron,  will  understand  at  once  to 
make  the  Indiana  "block  coal"  unequaled  for  all  manufacturing  purposes.  For 
iron  it  is  unapproachable,  being  but  little  different  from  charcoal.  In  fact,  much 
of  it  is  charcoal,  as  any  one  can  see  by  breaking  a  lump.  The  whole  surface  will 
be  found  mottled  by  alternates  lines  of  bright  and  dull  black,  and  the  latter  are 
laminations  of  mere  mineral  charcoal.  It  will  rub  off  on  the  fingers  or  clothes 
like  charcoal,  and  it  can  be  scraped  up  in  little  heaps  of  charcoal  dust.  The 
brighter  laminations  are  a  sort  of  cannel  coal.  The  whole  mass,  instead  of  the 
glossy,  polished  look  of  Pittsburg  coal,  is  dull  and  dark,  rather  than  black,  with 
frequent  splotches  of  greyish  hue,  like  an  underground  rust,  upon  it.  It  is,  ia 
all  respects,  different  from  the  ordinary  bituminous  coal,  which  has  to  be  coked  be- 
fore it  can  be  used  to  smelt  or  work  iron.  To  its  singular  adaptation  to  iron  man- 
ufacture, is  due  the  enormous  development  of  that  interest  in  the  city  within  the 
past  ten  years. 

The  field  is  calculated,  from  the  facts  so  far  ascertained,  to  contain  over  twenty 
thousand  millions  of  tons  of  this  "block"  coal.  This  is  more  than  will  be  worked 
up  by  all  the  population  that  can  be  collected  on  the  vast  plain  about  Indianapolis 
in  five  hundred  years. 

Besides  the  "block,"  the  field  contains  many  seams  of  the  ordinary  coal,  though 
varying  less  from  the  other  than  does  the  Eastern  kind.  There  is  every  variety 
for  all  kinds  of  work,  and  all  can  be  obtained  with  equal  ease  and  cheapness.  The 
whole  field  is  calculated  to  contain  sixty-five  thousand  millions  of  tons,  much  of 
it  close  to  the  surface,  none  of  it  so  deep  as  to  need  the  costly  shafting  and  ma- 
chinery of  the  English  or  Eastern  mines. 

In  the  possession  of  this  amount  of  fuel,  Indianapolis  offers  to  the  manufac- 
turer, and  especially  to  the  iron  manufacturer,  these  advantages:. 

1st.  The  best  coal  that  has  yet  been  found  in  the  world,  to  make  or  work  iron, 
and  as  good  as  any — better  than  most — for  making  steam. 

2nd.  Cheap  coal,  made  cheap  by  ease  of  mining,  freedom  from  danger,  facili- 
ties for  approach  in  mining,  and  by  the  capability  of  the  covering  country  to  sup- 
port the  miners. 

3d.  Cheap  transportation  of  coal  from  the  mines  to  the  city,  assured  by  the 
actual  operation  of  four  lines  of  railway  penetrating  the  field  in  four  directions, 
with  the  certain  addition  of  a  fifth,  already  on  the  way  to  completion.  Added  to 
these  is  the  probability  of  a  cheap  narrow  gauge  line,  which  the  recent  developments 
as  to  the  value  of  that  mode  of  transportation  have  suggested  to  men  not  likely  to 
abandon  it.  The  competition  of  these  lines  makes  high  prices  impossible.  These 
are  the  Indianapolis,  Bloomington  and  Western;  the  Indianapolis  and  St.  Louis; 


BENHAM  BRO'S, 


M^ 


IMPORTERS,  AND 


Wholesale  and   Retail   Dealers  in  the  best 


1HEET  MUSIC, 
)    MUSIC  BOOKS, 


VIOMNS, 


AN  JOS, 
STRINGS,  &C. 


BAND   INSTRUMENTS, 


Amel  mil  Mmim  &£  Mssieal 


PUBLISHERS  OF 


A  24-page  MONTHLY  JOURBTAL ;  each  number  containing  eight  to 

ten  pages  of  Choice  Reading,  and  over  One  Dollars 

warth  of  New  Music. 

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BENHAM  BROS., 

36  East  Washington  St.,  INDIANAPOLIS. 


322  SOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

the  Indianapolis  and  Terre  Haute;  the  Indiana  and  Illinois  Central,  (in  pro- 
gress), and  the  Indianapolis  and  Vincennes. 

4th.  Choice  of  coal.  Standing  at  the  junction  of  five  or  six  lines  of  coal  trans- 
portation, each  bringing  a  different  variety  or  different  grade,  the  manufacturer  at 
Indianapolis  can  choose  that  which  suits  him  best,  at  a  price  regulated  by  strong 
and  steady  competition,  Right  in  the  coal  field,  he  would  have  to  take  what  w<as 
near  him,  or  obtain  better  at  a  cost  that  would  make  profit  impossible.  Iron  men 
know  well  the  necessity  of  adapting  coal  to  ore,  and  the  uncertainty  there  is  of 
finding  one  kind  yielding  an  equal  product  with  another.  The  city  is,  therefore,  a 
better  point  for  smelting,  as  well  as  puddling,  rolling,  casting,  or  any  other  process 
of  iron  manufacture,  than  any  other  point  in  the  State. 

5th.  The  numerous  railway  lines  centering  here,  afford  all  possible  facilities 
for  obtaining  necessary  raw  material,  or  shipping  completed  products.  We  have 
twelve  lines  entering  the  city,  and  will  soon  have  thirteen.  Thei^e  are  only  about 
eight  counties  in  the  State  that  are  not  in  direct  railway  connection  with  us,  that 
is,  that  cannot  send  a  passenger  from  there  here  all  the  way  by  rail.  This  can. 
hardly  be  said  of  another  State  in  the  Union,  except  some  of  the  New  England  States. 
There  are  only  these  eight  from  which  a  merchant  may  not  come  here,  do  business, 
and  return  in  the  same  day,  with  suitable  arrangement  of  connections  and  trains. 
This  places  every  dealer  in  the  State  at  the  doors  of  our  manufacturers,  virtually. 

6th.  Besides  these  advantages,  offered  to  the  iron  manufacturer  especially,  the 
advantages  of  cheap  fuel  and  unequalled  transportation  are  offered  to  every  class 
of  manufacture.  To  wood  workers,  we  can  show  hardly  less  capabilities  of  profita- 
ble labor,  than  to  iron  men.  We  are  in,tke  centre  of  the  "hard  wood"  region  of 
the  North-West;  and  no  State  in  the  Union  possesses  so  much  of  the  now  valuable 
black  walnut,  as  this.  Eastern  manufacturers  have  come  here  to  obtain  the  benefit 
of  this  abundance.  Their  branch  establishments  have  become  quite  a  feature  of 
business,  within  two  years  past;  and  it  is  a  feature  that  must  become  more  and 
more  prominent  as  these  valuable  woods  become  more  valuable. 

7th.  We  offer  plenty  and  cheap  building  stone,  brick,  and  other  building  ma- 
terials. 

Now,  seeing  what  Indianapolis  has  grown  to,  by  means  still  as  fully  at  her 
command  as  ever,  and  enlarged  by  many  additional  developments,  what  may  we 
fairly  conclude  her  prospects  to  be?  More  and  more  rapid  growth  —  wider  reach 
of  trade  —  greater  accumulations  of  individual  wealth  by  individual  energy  and 
industry  —  a  greater  sweep  of  influence  —  a  higher  place  in  the  commerce  and  pro- 
ductive industry  of  the  nation.  Since  1860,  her  population  has  grown  from  18,000  to 
over  50,000 ;  her  aggregate  of  taxable  property  from  $10,000,000  to  over  $30,000,000. 
If  there  is  any  dependence  to  be  placed  in  the  prophecy  of  indications,  fairly  inter- 
preted, she  is  likely  to  grow  in  1880  to  100,000  inhabitants,  with  a  total  of  taxa- 
bles  of  ^100,000,000.  This  is  large  guessing,  but  it  is  not  larger  than  the  develop- 
ments of  the  last  ten  yeara  will  make  safe  guessing,  as  well. 

BAILBOADS. 

The  railroad  fever  was  taken  early  in  Indiana,  but  its  energy  was  expended  idly 
toeause  applied  prematurely.  If  the  lines  at  Irst  proposed  could  bare  been  built 
they  would  have  languished,  and  possibly  have  died,  before  the  development  of  the 
toQntry  could  have  supplied  them  with  proltablc  business.  It  is  true  that  thgy 
vroftld  have  contributed  largely  to  tfcai  development,  and  to  the  creation  of  the 


DEALEBS IN 


f 


FINDINGS  AND  SUPPLIES 


Of  all  Kinds,  for 


WOOLEN  FACTOKIES, 


West  Em®.  &f 


MAKE  CASSIMERES, 


BLANKETS,  YARNS,  &c.,  &c., 

For  tke  Wholesale  and  Retail  Trade. 
-AJT   TECB 

West  End  of  Washirrgton  Street, 


324  SOLI  o  WA  r's  INDIANAPOLIS, 

sources  of  their  support,  but  all  they  could  have  done,  added  to  all  that  would  have 
been  done  any  how,  would  hardly  have  saved  them  from  inanition  lor  the  first  few 
years.  In  1830,  as  noticed  in  the  general  history  of  the  city,  six  railway  lines  were' 
projected  from  various  points  on  the  borders  of  the  State,  mainly  OH  the  southern 
border,  all  centering  at  Indianapolis.  These  were  the  Lawrencebnrgh  and  Indian- 
apolis, Madison  and  Indianapolis,  New  Albany,  Salem  and  Indianapolis,  Harrison 
and  Indianapolis,  Lafayette  and  Indianapolis,  and  the  Ohio  and  Indianapolis. 
They  were  chartered  in  February,  1831.  Sarteys  were  made  on  some  of  them,  and 
with  some  little  or  nothing  was  done.  Grading  was  attempted  in  spots  on  the  Law- 
renceburgh  line,  and  years  afterwards  the  remains  of  embankments  were  to  be 
seen  near  Shelbyville.  They  may  be  visible  yet.  The  Madison  was  surveyed  and 
started,  and  a  rechartering  of  some  of  the  others  in  1835  indicated  a  continued 
purpose  to  prosecute  them.  But  in  1836  the  "Internal  Improvement  System"  su- 
perseded private  effort,  and  all  were  abandoned  but  those  taken  in  hand  by  the 
State.  Tfee  chief,  in  effect  the  only  one,  of  these  was  fche  Madison  road,  with  a  brief 
notice  of  which  may  be  introduced  a  sketch  of  our  railway  system.  Before  enter- 
ing upon  this,  however,  it  is  due  to  Ex-Governor  Ray  to  allude  to  his  project  of  » 
railway  system  which  was  ridiculed  in  his  day  as  the  dream  of  a  disordered  intel- 
lect. In  fact,  the  old  Governor  was  not  as  sound  in  mind  as  he  had  been,  but  the 
system  into  which  the  separate  railway  enterprises  have  combined  runs  so  closely 
parallel  with  his  that  his  dream  would  have  been  voted  a  prophecy  some  centuries 
ago.  He  proposed  a  series  of  lines  to  all  points  of  the  compass;  and  we  have  it 
a  village  every  ten  miles — and  we  have  pretty  nearly  that;  a  town  every  twenty — 
and  we  can  come  very  close  to  that;  and  cities  at  a  certain  other  distance  (the 
writer  does  not  remember  what)  which,  whatever  it  may  have  been,  has  been 
practically  realized.  These  radiating  lines  were  all  to  have  a  common  central  de- 
pot— and  we  have  that,  and  the  only  city  in  the  world  that  has.  It  may  detract 
from  the  good  old  Governor's  powers  as  a  prophet,  but  it  will  add  to  his  repute  as  a 
shrewd  speculator,  that  he  wanted  that  central  depot  on  his  property  opposite  the 
C»urt  House,  which,  he  contended,  was  the  only  projper  place  for  it, 

MADISON   ROAD. 

The  Madison  road,  began  as  above  stated,  was  taken  by  the  State  in  1836,  and  car- 
ried through  the  "deep  diggings"  at  the  Madison  hill,  in  which  was  sunk  enough 
money  to  have  brought  it  nearly  to  the  Capital,  and  completed  with  a  flat  bar  to 
Vernon  in  1841,  at  a  cost  of  $1,900,000.  There  it  stopped  till  after  the  echoes  of 
the  great  financial  crash  had  died  away.  It  was  leased  to  Branhatn  &  Co.  in  1839 
for  sixty  per  cent,  of  its  receipts,  the  State  furaishing  engines  and  making  repairs. 
In  1842  it  was  sold  to  the  Madison  and  Indianapolis  Railroad  Company,  and  com- 
pleted to  Indianapolis  October  1st,  1847.  Nathan  B.  Palmer,  Samuel  Merrill,  John 
Brough,  E.  W.  H.  Ellis,  and  F.  O.  J.  Smith  were  Presidents  till  th«  absorption  of 
the  road  by  the  later  born  and  stronger  Jeffersonville  road.  In  1854  it  was  consol- 
idated and  "run"  with  the  Peru  road.  In  March,  1862,  it  was  sold  by  the  United 
States  Marshal  for  $325,000,  taken  by  a  newly  organized  company,  and  sold  shortly 
after  to  the  Jeffersonville  Company.  It  was,  at  first,  the  best  paying  road  in  the 
country,  as  may  be  easily  conceived,  when  it  is  remembered  that  it  was  the  only 
outlet  and  inlet  to  the  whole  center  of  the  State.  Its  stock  sold  in  1852  for  $1.60. 
But  it  ran  wild  in  a  sort  of  intoxication  of  prosperity  and  wasted  money  in  every 
way.  A  new  and  round-about  extension  to  avoid  the  "cut"  at  Madison  was  un- 


6.  A.  JOHNSTON. 


W.  J.  JOHNSTON. 


WHOLESALE  AND  RETAIL  DEALERS  IN 


COOKING,PARLOR&HEATING  STOVES 

AND  MANUFACTURERS  OF 

Galvanized  Iron  Cornice,  Tin,  Sheet  Iron  &  Copper  Ware',  Slate  Roofing,  etc. 
62  East  Washington  St.,  INDIANAPOLIS,  IND. 

JACOB  WOODBURN,Pres't.  J.  S.  YOST,  A.  S.  &  T.  J.  F.  PRATT,  SeSy* 

S.  F.  SMITH,  V.  P.  &>  T.  V.  ROTHROCR,  Suft. 


of 


PLAIN  BUGGY  AND  CARRIAGE  WHEELS, 


Handles, 
Illinois  &L,  one  Square  South  of  Union  Depot, 

INDIANAPOLIS. 


326  BOLLOWAT^B  INDIA.HTAPOLJS. 

dertaken,  prosecuted  at  an  enormous  expense,  and  abandoned.  Branch  lines  were- 
made  or  projected.  Nothing  was  checked  for  fear  of  the  cost.  But  rival  lines  fol- 
lowed it,  and  they,  co-operating  with  its  extravagant  management,  sunk  it  till  the 
stock  sold  in  1856  for  2J  cents  on  the  dollar.  The  State  never  got  anything  worth 
naming  for  all  she  expended  on  this,  pioneer  line  of  railway.  It  is  eighty-sis 
miles  long,  passing  through  five  counties,  most  of  them  rich  in  stock,  corn  lands  and 
timber,  some  in  stone,  and  each  containing  a  flourishing  center  of  local  business, 
Franklin,  Edinburgh  (in-the  same  county)  Columbus,  Vernon  and  Madison.  Since 
its  absorption  the  lower  end,  from  Columbus,  has  become  a  mere  local  road,  the  main 
line  running  to  Jeffersonville.  Lime  and  building  stone  of  excellent  quality  con- 
stitute one  of  the  moat  importaut  contributions  of  this  old  line  to  the  business  of 
the  city.  Buhr  mill  stone  is  also  found  in  Jennings  county,  but  it  is  hard  to  say 
•what  the  value  of  the  trade  in  it  may  be,  or  may  be  made. 

JEFyEBSONVILLE   ROAD. 

The  Jeffersonville  road,  which  by  its  connection  with  the  Madison  may  be 
more  properly  noticed  here  than  elsewhere,  was  one  of  those  that  helped  to  break 
up  the  monopoly  of  the  Madison,  and  open  to  the  city  an  improvable  connection 
with  the  south.  It  was  begun  in  1848,  one  among  the  earliest,,  and  completed  to 
Edinburgh,  78  miles,  in  1852.  In  August,  1853,  a  lease  of  the  Madison  road,  with- 
its  appurtenances,  was  obtained,  and  in  1863  the  whole  concern  was  bought  and 
amalgamated  with  the  Jeffersonville.  The  latter  was  run  over  the  Madison  to 
Calumbus,  and  thence  on  a  separate  line  to  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  one  hundred  and1 
ten  miles  from  Indianapolis,  traversing  from  Columbus  four  counties,  and  connect- 
ing with  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  road  at  Seymour.  Until  the  completion  of  the 
gigantic  bridge  at  the  Falls,  this  line  could  make  no  very  advantageous  connection 
with  southern  lines,  the  transhipment  of  freights  involving  serious  cost  and  consid- 
erable delay,  but  now  the  Ohio  river  interposes  no  obstacle,  and  Indianapolis  can 
make  as  complete  and  safe  and  cheap  connection  with  Louisville  as  with  Cincin- 
nati. Dillard  Kicketts  has  long  been  President  of  this  road,  but  Mr.  John  Zulauf 
preceded  him.  A  controlling  interest  in  it,  and  its  interest  in  the  bridge-  over  the 
Ohio,  have  recently  been  purchased  by  the  Pennsylvania  Central  Railroad. 

BELLEFOKTAINE    ROAD. 

The  Bellefoataine  road  was  projected  in  1847-' 48,  by  Hon.  Oliver  H.  Smith,  to- 
whom  it  owes  its  existence  nearly  as  wholly  as  if  he  had  built  it  with  his  own 
money.  It  was  chartered  in  1848,  and  by  Mr.  Smith's  energetic  endeavors,  in  push- 
ing on  the  solicitation  of  stock  subscriptions,  and  making  speeches  along  the  line- 
showing  its  undeniable  but  unappreciated  advantages-  in  a  lake  and  eastern  connec- 
tion, it  was  put  under  way  within  a  year,  and  in  the  winter  of  the  next  year,  1850, 
cars  were  running  to  Pendleton,  28  miles.  In  the  winter  of  1852  it  was  completed 
its  full  length,  84  miles,  to  Union  City  on  the  State-  line,  where  it  connected  with 
a  line  simultaneously  carried  on  to  Bellefontaine,  in  Ohio.  A  few  years  later  it 
was  given  a  connection  at  the  same  point  with  Dayton,  ttnough  Greenville.  A  de- 
pot and  other  buildings  were  erected  here,  in  what  was  then  the  extreme  north- 
eastern suburb  of  the  city,  but  they  were  found  to  be  too  far  away,  and  in  1853 
others  were  built  on  the  creek  at  Virginia  Avenue.  The  old  ones,  with  a  large  sec- 
tion of  track,  were  sold  in  1853  to  Mr.  Farns worth,  and  occupied  by  him  and  Mr. 
J.  Barnard  as  a  car  factory  for  about  six  years.  New  freight  and  car  houses  were 
built  in  1864  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city.  In  1853  it  was  consolidated  with  th& 


B.  F.  HAUGH.          J.  R.  HAUGH.          T.  H.  BUTLER. 

CO., 


MANUFACTUKERS  OF 


B.  F.  HAUGH'S  CELEBRATED  JAIL  DOORS  AND  FASTENINGS, 

BUSINESS  HOUSE  FRONTS, 

WROUGHT  AND  CAST  IRON  RAILING, 


All  Kinds  of  Wrought  and  Cast  Iron  Work, 


30O  SAIUEFUSS  OF 


Iron  Fences,  Balustrading,  and  Verandas 

ON  HAND  TO  SELECT  PROM,  BEING  THE 

LARGEST  AND  BEST  ASSORTMENT  IN  THE  WEST, 

We  feel  confident  that  all  parties  contemplating  build- 
ing Jails,  will  do  well  to  consult  us. 

as,  72,  74,  76,  78  and  80  South  Pennsylvania  St., 

INDIANAPOLIS,  IND. 


328  SOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

Ohio  line,  and  in  1868  with  the  Cleveland,  Columbus  and  Cincinnati  line,  and  the 
old  name,  with  Indianapolis  added,  is  its  present  name,  but  it  goes  usually  by  the 
name  of  the  "Bee  line."  The  Indiana  end  of  it  passes  through  four  counties  well 
populated  and  agriculturally  rich,  and  connects  with  other  roads  at  Anderson  and 
Muncie  as  well  as  at  Union.  Its  eastern  connections  give  it  an  immense  business, 
though  for  a  time  it  languished  greatly  and  its  stock  run  low.  Besides  Mr.  Smith 
it  has  had  John  Brough,  Alfred  Harrison  and  Calvin  Fletcher  for  Presidents,  and 
since  its  consolidation  it  has  been  largely  controlled  by  the  Ohio  and  Eastern  in- 
terest. 

TERRE   HATJTE   ROAD. 

The  TerreHaute  and  Richmond  road  was  originally,  as  the  name  imports, 
projected  to  run  from  one  side  of  the  State  to  the  other,  but  it  was  deemed  too 
heavy  a  contract,  and  only  the  western  end  was  proceeded  with  by  the  original 
organization.  It  was  chartered  in  1846,  with  a  provision  which  the  State  has  never 
availed  itself  of,  allowing  the  Legislature,  after  the  dividends  have  fully  returned 
the  original  investment,  to  regulate  the  tolls  and  freights  and  to  take  for  the  school 
fund  all  dividends  above  fifteen  per  cent.  It  was  surveyed  and  the  contracts  let 
in  1849.  Work  began  in  1850,  and  was  completed  in  May,  1852,  at  a  cost,  includ- 
ing the  mortgages,  of  $1,154,000.  The  freight  depot,  the  largest  in  the  city,  was 
built  in  1850-51,  in  anticipation  of  the  completion  of  the  road,  and  for  a  time  was 
used  as  the  passenger  depot  too.  It  was  thus  used  by  several  roads  as  late  as  1855, 
till  the  Union  depot  was  completed.  It  was  enlarged  in  1857,  and  was  consider- 
ably damaged  in  1865  by  the  explosion  of  a  locomotive  in  it.  Chauncey  Rose  was 
the  first  President,  and  is  yet  the  principal  owner.  Edwin  J.  Peck  and  W.  R.  Mc- 
Keen  have  been  Presidents.  It  is  now  called  the  Terre  Haute  and  Indianapolis 
road,  and  connects  at  Terre  Haute  with  a  new  line  to  St.  Louis  through  Vandalia. 
It  passes  through  four  counties,  the  eastern  rich  in  agricultural,  the  others  in  mine- 
ral, wealth.  It  is  seventy-four  miles  long.  The  coal  trade  has  hitherto  been  car- 
ried on  over  it  exclusively,  and  its  general  freight  and  passenger  business  has  been 
probably  equalled  by  no  other  in  the  city.  It  connects  at  Greencastle  with  the 
Louisville,  New  Albany  and  Chicago  road.  Its  first  President,  Mr.  Rose,  with 
Mr.  Smith  of  the  Bellefontaine,  and  Mr.  Peck  and  General  Morris,  devised  and 
carried  through  the  great  project  of  a  Union  track  and  depot. 

CINCINNATI   ROAD. 

A  railway  connection  with  Cincinnati  was  early  seen  to  be  important,  and  one 
of  the  first  railroads  projected  in  1830-31  was  one  to  effect  this  object.  It  was  fre- 
quently renewed  afterwards,  but  its  direct  conflict  with  the  interests  of  the  Madi- 
son road  made  that  then  powerful  corporation  a  determined  enemy,  and  no  fair 
charter  could  be  obtained.  It  was  not  until  1850  that  it  was  begun  in  a  disjointed 
way,  in  a  series  of  sectional  roads,  which  the  Madison  thought  would  create  a  less 
dangerous  rivalry  by  their  lack  of  consolidated  organization.  It  was  finished  to 
Lawrenceburgh,  90  miles,  in  1853,  and  the  following  spring,  the  Ohio  and  Missis- 
sippi road  having  been  finished,  an  accommodation  rail  was  laid  upon  its  track  for 
our  road,  then  changed  to  the  "  Indianapolis  and  Cincinnati "  from  the  "  Lawrence- 
burgh  and  Upper  Mississippi,"  and  a  continuous  line  made  to  Cincinnati.  In  1855, 
the  abandoned  White  Water  Canal  having  been  bought,  a  track  was  laid  in  the  bed 
of  that  for  the  road.  A  branch,  road  was  built  through  the  White  Water  Valley 


CHARLES  SOEHNER'S 


No.  36  East  Washington  Street, 

("With  Benham  Bro's) 


Dealer  in  the  Unrivalled 


TJIFlR/IGi-IHIT 


"THE   BEST   I IV   THE   WORLD." 


This  is  the  judgment  of  the  best  Musical  authorities  of  the  Old  and  New  'World,  and  wa8 
also  the  favorite  expression  used  by  other  dealers  in  this  city  when  they  had,  and  until  they  lost, 
the  agency  for  the  STEINWAY  PIANO  ;  also,  the 


One  of  the  best  First-Class  Pianos,  with  an  established  reputation,  and 


The  latter  baing  the  best  Medium  Priced  Piano  now  manufactured.     Prices  from  $325  upwards. 

EVEBY  NEW  PIANO  SOLD  WARRANTED  FOR  FIVE  YEARS- 

All  these  manufacturers,  having  a  long-established  reputation,  and  having  immense  capital 
at  their  command,  are  founded  on  a  solid  basis,  and  are  not  liable  to  change  of  firm  every  few  years, 
as  some  are ;  therefore,  their  guarantees  may  be  relied  upon  by  purchasers  as  being  perfectly  good 
and  safe. 

Charles  Soehner  has  been  in  the  Piano  trade  in  this  State  and  Ohio  for  twenty  years,  and  ia 
responsible  for  all  contracts  he  may  make.  He  Is  a  thorough  and  practical  musician,  and  does  not 
sell  on  commission,  but  keeps  constantly  on  hand  the  largest  and  best  stock  in  the  State,  all  of 
which  are  bought  for  cash,  which  enables  him  to  sell  at  the  very  lowest  rates,  and  on  reasonable 
terms. 

He  keeps  a  regular  Piano  House,  and  does  not  peddle  his  instruments  over  the  country.  He 
sells  them  either  at  his  room,  or  by  illustrated  catalogue,  or  through  correspondence,  or  by  visiting 
the  parties.  By  this,  he  saves  to  the  buyers  the  profit  paid  to  traveling  agents. 

Second-hand  Pianos  for  sale  or  rent.  Tuning  and  Repairing  done  by  a  first-class  workman. 
Please  call  on  or  address 

CHARLES   SOEHNER, 
Jfo.  36  East  Washington  St.,  INDIANAPOLIS,  IND. 


330  HOLLOWAY'8   INDIANAPOLIS. 

some  ten  years  ago,  and  another  from  Fairland  to  Martinsville.  In  1866  it  was 
consolidated  with  the  Lafayette  road,  and  in  1868  obtained  the  control,  by  lease,  of 
the  Vincennes  road.  This  last  arrangement  has  since  been  broken  up.  The  shops 
of  the  road  were  first  built  here,  burned  in  1855,  and  rebuilt,  and  then  removed  to 
Cincinnati.  For  some  time  past  the  company  has  been  greatly  embarrassed.  Its 
affairs  have  been  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  receiver,  and  quke  recently  an  attempt 
has  been  made  to  force  it  into  bankruptcy.  George  H.  Dunn  was  the  first  Presi- 
dent, but  H.  C.  Lord  is  best  known  in  connection  with  that  position.  It  passes 
through  five  counties,  and  is  115  miles  long.  Valuable  quarries  of  building  stone, 
largely  used  in  Indianapolis,  as  well  as  a  very  productive  agricultural  country  lie 
on  this  line. 

LAFAYETTE   ROAD. 

The  Indianapolis  and  Lafayette  road  was  begun  in  1849  under  the  Presidency 
of  Albert  S.  White,  and  finished  in  the  winter  of  1852.  It  is  65  miles  long,  cost 
$1,000,000,  and  passes  through  four  counties  of  great  agricultural  wealth,  and  was 
for  a  long  time  immensely  valuable  as  the  connecting  link  between  the  southern 
roads  and  Chicago.  In  1866  it  was  consolidated  with  the  Cincinnati  road,  to  make 
a  connection  for  Cincinnati  with  Chicago,  and  the  consolidation  in  attempting  too 
much  broke  down.  Its  freight  depot  was  built  in  1853,  in  the  north-west  corner  of 
the  city,  near  the  canal,  burned  in  1864,  rebuilt  in  1865,  and  has  been  measurably 
abandoned  since  1866,  the  consolidation  having  little  use  for  it.  Besides  Mr.  White, 
W.  F.  .Reynolds,  of  Lafayette,  was  President  of  the  separate  road  for  several  years. 

CENTRAL  ROAD. 

The  Indiana  Central  road  was  organized  in  1851  and  contracts  made  in  the  fall 
of  that  year.  It  was  completed  to  the  State  line,  72  miles,  in  December,  1853,  at 
a  cost  of  $1,223,000.  It  was  consolidated  with  the  Ohio  end  of  the  line  in  1863, 
and  called  the  Indianapolis  and  Columbus  road.  In  1867  the  road  was  con- 
solidated with  the  Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis  line.  It  does  a 
large  business  as  a  through  line,  and  a  good  deal  in  the  local  way,  traversing  four 
of  the  best,  and  best  cultivated,  counties  of  the  State.  Samuel  Hannah  was  the 
first  President,  succeeded  by  John  S.  Newman,  the  most  efficient  contributor  to  its 
construction. 

PERU  ROAD. 

The  Peru  and  Indianapolis  road  was  chartered  in  1846,  and  a  company  organ- 
ized the  year  following.  Work  was  begun  in  1849  and  the  road  completed  with  a 
flat  bar  to  Noblesville,  21  miles,  in  the  spring  of  1851.  It  was  finished  to  Peru  in 
1854,  73  miles,  at  a  cost  of  $700,000.  In  a  few  months  after  its  completion  it  was 
consolidated  with  the  Madison  road,  but  it  was  found  to  be  a  rather  premature  en- 
terprise, as  it  had  no  through  connection  to  the  north,  and  the  local  trade  was  inad- 
equate to  make  a  paying  route.  It  was  disposed  of  for  the  benefit  of  the  bondhold- 
ers in  1857,  and  has  since  been  worked  for  them,  and  having  gained  through  con- 
nections is  proving  a  good  line.  The  flat  rail  was  replaced  with  the  T  within  a  year 
after  its  completion  to  Peru.  It  traverses  four  counties  which  are  now  fast  im- 
proving, but  a  portion  lying  in  the  old  Miami  Reserve  was  long  in  being  brought 
up  to  the  average  level  of  other  counties.  It  has  had  a  number  of  Presidents,  of 
whom  Wm.  J.  Holman  was  the  first.  Dr.  E.  W.  H.  Ellis,  John  D.  Defrees,  John 
Burke  and  David  Macy  have  also  been  Presidents. 


FRANK  A.  BO  YD,  Producer  and  Manufacturers'  Agent, 


Axle  Grease,  Leads,  Mineral  Faints  &  Tarnishes, 
22  SOUTH  MERIDIAN  STREET,        -       INDIANAPOLIS,  INDIANA. 


Agent  for  Gold's  Patent  Self-Measuring  Oil  Can. 


WATCHES    AND    JEWELRY, 


Ac 


No.    24    East    Washington    Street, 


WHOLESALE  AHD  KETAL  DEALERS  IN 


Howard,  Elgin,  United  Slates,  Waltham,  Springfield  and  American  Watches, 


Diamonds,  Jewelry,  Solid  Silver  and  Plated  Ware,  Table  Cutlery,  Spec- 

tacles and  Clocks. 

We  are  receiving  daily,  direct  from  Manufacturers  and  Importers,  new  goods  of  the  latest  and.  most 

desirable  patterns,  and  will  not  be  undersold  by  any  house  in  the  country. 

Extra  inducements  offered  to  cash  buyers. 

JS  JPJE  CJT^LJE.  T3T,.  -> 


All  Goods  sold  by  us  marked  free  of  charge. 


332  HOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

JUNCTION  ROAD. 

The  Indianapolis  and  Cincinnati  Junction  road  was  began  in  divisions  from 
Hamilton,  Ohio,  to  this  city,  in  1850.  A  good  deal  of  work  was  done,  when  the  two 
companies  concerned,  the  Ohio  and  Indianapolis,  and  the  Junction,  united  in  1853 
and  prosecuted  the  enterprise  with  ample  means  and  excellent  prospects  till  they 
were  overtaken  by  the  embarrassments  of  1855  and  compelled  to  stop,  till  about  five 
years  ago.  Work  was  then  resumed  and  the  road  brought  to  this  point  in  1868. 
The  city  voted  it  a  subsidy  of  $45,000,  on  condition  that  its  shops  were  placed  here, 
ajcondition  that  has  not  been  complied  with,  though  within  a  few  months  past  there 
is  a  reasonable  prospect  of  its  being  done.  It  is  124  miles  long,  traverses  five  coun- 
ties in  this  State;  all  among  the  richest  in  agricultural  property  and  prospects.  It 
has  recently  passed  under  the  coatrol  of  the  Cincinnati,' Hamilton  &  Dayton  Bail- 
way.  Its  successive  Presidents  have  been:  Caleb  B.  Smith,  John  Woods4  Samuel 
W.  Parker,  Jonathan  M.  Ridenour,  and  L.  Worthington. 

VINCENNES   BOAD. 

The  Indianapolis  and  Vincennes  road,  opening  a  connection  with  the  navigable 
end  of  the  Wabash,  was  one  of  the  earliest  projected  roads  of  the  second  era  of 
railroad  enterprise  in  the  State.  It  was  proposed  in  1836,  and  again  in  1850  or  '51, 
and  advanced  to  the  point  of  the  organization  of  a  company,  with  John  H.  Brad- 
ley as  President,  in  1853.  It  never  went  further,  however.  In  1865  a  new  effort 
was  made  by  an  Eastern  Company,  organized  under  General  Ambrose  E.  Burn- 
side.  Indianapolis  voted  it  a  subscription  of  $60,000,  on  condition  its  shops  were 
located  here.  No  shops  have  yet  been  established  anywhere  of  any  considerable 
consequence,  so  that  the  condition  can  hardly  be  deemed  violated.  It  was  finished 
to  this  city  in  1868,  and  almost  immediately  on  its  completion  was  leased  to  the 
Cincinnati  road.  That  lease  was  not  allowed  to  stand  long,  however,  and  the  road 
is  now  rsnning  on  its  own  account,  though  controlled  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Central,  and  is  doing  well.  It  passes  through  five  counties,  the  upper  sec- 
tion being  wholly  agricultural,  the  lower  fully  stored  with  mineral  wealth  of  im- 
mense value,  including  the  best  qualities  of  coal,  stone  of  many  varieties,  and  "  eold 
short"  iron  in  abundance  of  good  quality  to  mix  with  the  "hot  short"  grade  of 
Iron  Mountain  and  Lake  Superior. 

CRAWFORDSVILLE   ROAD. 

The  Indianapolis,  Bloomington  and  Western  (Crawfordsville)  was  organized 
some  years  ago,  but  after  survey  was  checked  by  pecuniary  embarrassments,  so  that 
the  last  of  the  work  has  been  done  upon  it  within  the  past  four  years  or  less.  Its 
most  active  advocate  and  manager  has  been  Mr.  Sam'IC.  Willson,  of  Crawfordsville. 
It  runs  through  five  counties  of  abundant  agricultural  resources,  those  to  the  West 
lying  in  the  great  coal  field,  and  sure  to  develope,  sooner  or  later,  a  vast  amount  of 
mineral  wealth.  It  connect*  at  Danville,  111.,  with  extended  Western  lines,  and 
forms  a  valuable  link  in  one  of  the  Great  Western  chains.  When  first  completed 
it  entered  the  city  over  the  Terre  Haute  and  Indianapolis  track,  for  a  while,  but  it 
has  since  made  a  shorter  connection  with  the  Indianapolis  and  St.  Louis,  and  es- 
tablished its  car  houses  and  shops  on  the  west  side  of  the  river. 


CO., 


WHOLESALE  and  RETAIL  DEALERS  IN 


ROBES,     JEto., 


No.  12  East  Washington  Street, 


]Vo.  14  East  "Wasliiii-toii 


Everything  new  and  direct  from  the  Manuffcctarerg  and  Importers. 


Diamonds,  Fine  Jewelry,  aad  SflTerirare. 


Special  attention  given  to  watch  repairing.      All  goeds  sold  are  engraved  free  of  charge  by  an  ex 

perienced  engraver. 


Ko.  14  East  Washington  Street,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 


§34  EOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

ST.  LOUIS   BOAD. 

The  Indianapolis  and  St.  Louis  road,  completed  within  a  year,  is  the  most  rap- 
idly constructed  line  that  enters  the  city.  It  was  meant  to  be  a  connection  west- 
ward for  some  strong  eastern  lines,  and  they  put  their  moaey,  experience  and  en- 
ergy upon  it  with  such  success  that  it  really  came  upon  the  town  with  a  shock  of 
suddenness.  It  traverses  the  same  counties  as  the  Terre  Haute  road,  and  will  be 
the  most  formidable  rival  of  that  in  the  coal  trade,  for  which  it  offers  abundant 
facilities.  It  was  frequently  remarked  during  its  progress  that  it  was  the  best 
built  new  road  ever  seen  in  the  West.  It  connects  at  Terre  Haute  with  the  old 
Terre  Haute  and  Alton  line,  and  thus  makes  a  single  route  to  St.  Louis.  Its  busi- 
ness, especially  of  through  freight,  is  already  enormous,  although  its  coal  transpor- 
tation has  hardly  begun  yet. 

These  twelve  lines  are  completed.  Besides  these  the  Indiana  and  Illinois  Cen- 
tral, which  also  penetrates  the  coal  field,  has,  after  many  years  of  suspension  and 
difficulty,  been  put  in  progress  to  completion,  and  it  may  be  confidently  expected 
to  add  its  contribution  to  the  city's  business  in  a  year  or  two.  It  will  have  through 
connections  westward,  and  undoubtedly  do  a  large  business.  All  these  western 
lines,  except  the  Lafayette,  run  through  the  coal  fields,  and  make  it  sure  that  no 
monopoly  or  dangerous  ascendancy  of  one  line  can  ever  occur  in  supplying  the  city 
with  fuel. 

There  have  been  several  other  lines  prejected,  but  as  they  have  all  died,  for  a 
time  at  least,  it  is  not  deemed  necessary  or  advisable  to  extend  this  work  by  notices 
of  them. 

THE   UNION   DEPOT. 

The  importance  of  a  Union  depot  and  track  became  apparent  as  soon  as  it  be- 
came settled  that  there  was  to  be  more  than  one  or  two  roads  entering  the  city. 
Oliver  H.  Smith,  Chauncey  Rose,  General  Morris  and  E.  J.  Peck  were  the  active 
promoters  of  the  enterprise.  In  August,  1849,  the  Union  Company,  composed  at 
first  of  the  Madison,  Bellefontaine  and  Terre  Haute  Companies,  was  organized, 
and  the  Union  track  laid  the  year  following.  Subsequently  other  companies  were 
admitted,  and  now  it  is  composed  of  some  half  dozen  or  more  of  the  different  rail- 
road managements  of  the  city.  It  ow'ns  all  the  railway  tracks  in  the  city  as  inde- 
pendently as  each  company  owns  its  own  out  of  the  city.  It  also  owns  the  Union 
Depot.  This  large  structure,  420  feet  long  by  200  wide,  was  planned  by  General 
Morris  and  completed  in  1853.  It  was  at  first  but  120  feet  wide,  but  in  1866  was 
enlarged,  an  eating  house  placed  in  it,  and  the  offices  transferred  to  fhe  south  side. 
In  1871  a  fire  occurred  in  it  which  seriously  damaged  the  Eating  House.  It  now 
accommodates  over  eighty  trains  a  day,  but  the  crowd  at  times  is-  so  great  that  the  ac- 
commodation is  very  indifferent,  as  vast  and  empty  as  the  place  looks  at  other  times. 
A  larger  depot  is  needed,  and  the  company  understand  this  quite  as  well  as  others, 
but  the  difficulty  is  to  determine  how  to  get  a  larger  one.  Shall  it  be  by  enlarging 
the  present  one,  or  getting  ground  further  west  for  a  new  one?  The  former  will 
be  hard,  the  latter  will  b«  removing  public  accommodations  possibly  so  far  to  make 
them  BO  convenience.  But  sooner  or  later  there  must  be  more  depot  room,  come 
by  it  how  the  company  may.  Mr.  Dillard  Ricketts,  of  the  Jeffersonville  road,  is 
the  present  President  of  the  Union  Company.  Mr.  E.  J.  Peck,  of  the  Terre 
Jaute  road  was  President  for  a  long  time.  3tr.  Wm.  N.  Jackson  has  been  Secre- 
tary all 


ESTABLISHED  IN   1848. 


WHOLESALE   GKOCEB, 

A3TD  GENERAL.  WALT  AOESTT, 

52  &  54  DELAWABE  STREET, 
Ol,   03.    95,   Or    &   09,    H3A.ST    ]tt A. K, V L, A N  1_>    STREET, 

S,  IND. 


J.  W.  MURPHY.  W.  J.  HOLLIDAY.  W.W.JOHNSON.  L.  M.  FITZHUGH 

MURPHY,  JOHNSTON  &  CO., 

'Wholesale  Dealers  in 


Nos.  51  &  53  S.  E.  Cor.  MERIDIAN  AND  MARYLAND  STS., 


AILY    AND     WEEKLY. 


THE  DAILY  JOURNAL  is  a  first-clnss  newspaper,  containing  the  Latest  News  from 
every  quarter,  the  Latest  und  fullest  Telegraphic  News,  a  Daily  Compend  of  State  News,  full  and 
accurate  Commercial  and  Market  Reports,  Special  Live  Stock  KeportH  from  Pittsburg,  Cincinnati 
and  Chicago  d;iily,  fresh  and  complete  City  News,  and  a  fine  selection  of  General  Miscellany. 

THE  WEEKLY  JOURNAL  is  carefully  prepured  with  the  special  view  to  making  it 
acceptable  in  the  Farm,  the  Shop,  the  Office,  and  the  Family.  It  gives  the  most  reliable  informa- 
tion in  Commerce,  Manufactures,  Agriculture,  Finance  and  General  Foreign  and  Domestic  Topics. 

TERMS  OF  THE  DAILY. 

Single  copies  per  week,  delivered  by  carrier,         ..       .       25  cents. 

By  mail,  payab  e  in  advance,  per  year,  ....  $1200 

"  "  "  6  months,  ....  6.OO 

"  •«  •«  3  "  3.00 

"  "  "  1  month, 1.00 


In  all  cities  or  towns  where  we  have  twenty-five  or  more  subscribers,  THE  JOURNAL  is  deliv- 
ered by  carriers  promptly  on  arrival  of  early  moruing  trains. 

WEEKLY  STATE  JOURNAL. 

Single  copies, $2.00 

Clubs  of  five  and  under  twenty-five,         ....  1.75  each 

•'       of  twenty-five  and  over, 1.50     " 

The  above  prices  are  invariable.     Remit  at  our  risk  in  Drafts,  or  Postoffiee  Money  Orders,  and 
where  neither  of  these  can  be  procured,  send  the  money  in  a  Registered  Letter. 


338 


SOLLOWAT'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 


ABSTRACT  OF  TONNAGE  OVER  INDIANA  DIVISION  OF  ST.  L.,  V.,  T. 
H.,  &  I.  R.  R  DURING  THE  YEAR  1870. 


Equivalent  in 
pounds. 

227  709  COS 

968  365 

54  2*8  243 

342  568 

21  554  I2'i 

58  ,181 

18  597  T>~! 

Barrels  B^ef,  Pork,  and  Lard  

34,233 

11  297  5''4 

340,800 

68  ICO  000 

7,  OHO 

2  117  50O 

Barrels  Oil  

23,034 

8  508  24  O 

Barrels  Salt  -  

19  235 

5  770  500 

Barrels  Whisky  „  

4,960 

1  763  OOO 

22  348 

37  415  689 

Bales  Cotton  „  

49,920 

23  771,397 

Bales  Hemp  

2,549 

'.I    ill    •<<!' 

Number  .  orses  and  Cattle  

46,766 

48  116  00" 

2,015 

1  9W  OOO 

36,200 

5  792  OOO 

Number  Hogg  

70,070 

20,384  OtiO 

752 

15  040  OOO 

2,105 

42  060  000 

Cars  Shingles  and  Lath  

145 

2,646,000 

Cars  Cooperate  

116 

2,138,000 

580 

10  440,000 

Cars  Stone  

1,781 

35,630,000 

2tK) 

4  000  000 

1,774 

35  480,000 

340 

6  800  OOO 

2  226 

44  520  '(>o 

19,431 

388,620,000 

Cars  Coke  „  

281 

5,620,00(1 

Cars  Cinders  

171 

3,420,000 

129 

2  580,000 

Carg  Meal,  Bran,  <tc  „  

190 

3,800,000 

Cars  Stone  Ware  

9 

180  000 

Cars  Slate  _     

5 

100,000 

'Cars  Ice  

323 

6,460,00(> 

276 

5,52O,<OO 

446 

8,920,000 

Gross  Tons  R.   R.  Iron  

31,160 

92,198,400 

335 

5  3<iO,00(> 

Number  Passenger  Cars  
Number  Flat  Cars.         

62 
118 

1,550,0  .0 
1,416,000 

44 

528,0(>0 

Number  Stock  Cars  

8 

96,00(i 

34 

1,360,000 

Total  „  

1,284.654,02 

V.  BUTSCH. 


S.  DICKSON 


FRED  P.  RUSH. 


BUSTCH,  DIOKSON  &  CO., 


Manufacturers  of  all  kinds  of 


FOOT    OF    KENTUCKY    AVENUE, 


Office  and  Warehouse,  96  &  98  Meridian  Street,  Cor.  Georgia. 


,    IHSTID, 


DAILY   AND    WEEKLY, 

Has  the  largest  circulation,  and  is  the  most  reliable  ar.d  influential  paper  in  the  State. 
SUBSCRIBE  FOB  IT. 

THE   JOB    ROOM 

Of  the  SENTINEL  is  weH  stocked  with  material   for 

Book,  Job,  Mercantile  and  Colored  Printing1. 

PARTICULAR    ATTENTION    PAID    TO    ORDERS. 

THE  BINDERY  DEPARTMENT 

IB  complete  in  MACHINERY  AND  MATERIAL  and  the  best  workmen  only  are  employed. 

THE  STEREOTYPE  FOUNDRY 

Connected  with  this  Establishment  is  the  SECOND  LARGEST  IN  THE  WEST. 


340r 


EOLLOWATS  INDIANJPOLlf 


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•CHARTERED.      CAPITAL  STOCK  $150,000  00. 


National  Surgical  Institute, 


FOE  THE  TREATMENT  Off 


ALL  CASES  OF  SURGERY, 


Deformities,  Chronic  Diseases,  Etc, 


ONE  SQUAEE  NORTH  OF  THE  UNION  PErOT,  INDIANAPOLIS,  IND. 


THE  NATIONAL  SCKGICAL  iNsriTUTE  i«  located  on  the  e&rner  of  Illinois  and  Georgia  streets, 
and  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  imposing  buildings  in  the  city.  There  is  no  institution,  of  its 
kind,  in  America,  so  extensive  in  its  several  appointments,  and  so  great  a  reputation  has  it  gained 
throughout  the  continent,  that  patients  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States  can  always  be  seen 
there  availing  themselves  of  its  benefits.  All  deformities  of  the  .Face,  Spine  and  Limbs  ;  diseases 
of  the  Eyu  ant!  .Ear,  Paralysis  and  Chronic  Diseases,  are  among  the  most  prominent  of  the  special- 
ties here  treated,  and  to  any  one  affected  with  any  of  these  afflictions,  greater  relief  is  offered  here 
than  anywhere  else.  More  than  four  thousand  cages  made  application  for  treatment  during  the 
,past  year,  and  the  great  good  which  has  been  accomplished  within  that  time,  is  beyond  estimate. 
Its  facilities  for  the  treatment  of  all  deformities  and  Surgical  and  Chronic  diseases  surpass  any- 
thing ever  before  attempted  in  this  country 

All  kinds  of  Apparatus  and  Surgical  appliances  are  furnished  to  order,  to  suit  every  known 
deformity,  aud,  unlike  other  Surgical  Institutions,  the  Surgeons  attend  personally  to  their  uianu- 
facure  and  adjustment  to  the  deformity. 

The  Medical  and  Surgical  Staff  is.composed  of  Surgeons  and  Physicians,  the  moat  eminent  in 
their  profession,  and  skillful  in  their  chosen  specialties. 

Many  new  aud  strange  inventions  have  been  made  available  through  the  superior  genius  of  Dr. 
Allen,  and  to  him  must  be  ascribed  tbe  highest  honors  for  the  great  and  valuable  assistance  he  has 
^rendered  in  this  respect  to  the  Science  of  Surgery,  b,y  means  of  which  thousands  of  cripples  hereto- 
fore deemed  incurable  have  been  fully  restored. 

Hundreds  of  cases  of  Paralysis  owe  their  restoration  to  the  treatment  as  administered  at  this 
Surgical  Institute,  and  .any  one  thus  afflicted,  should  make  no  delay,  but  haste  to  be  made  par- 
takers of  the  greatest  relief  ever  offered  for  the  care  ot  -this  terrible  affliction.  One  large  depart- 
ment is  devoted  exclusively  10  the  treatment  of  this  class  of  cases.  In  it  is  found  -the  Sweedish 
•Movement  cure,  pertect  and  complete  in  every  particular,  which  with  its  machines  for  producing 
artificial  motion  in  limbs  and  joints — and  for  the  use  of  vacuum  or  compressed  air,  with  the  aid  of 
-steam  generators,  all  of  which  are  absolute  and  indispensable  in  the  treatment  of  these  cases — will, 
upon  examination,  convince  the  most  skeptical  and  incredulous,  of  the  .merits  of  this  treatment  in 
preference  to  any  other. 

The  proprietors  have  spared  neither  pains  nor  ecpence  in  fitting  the  several  apartments  for  the 
reception  of  their  patients,  and  the  most  fastidious  lady  or  gentleman,  if  afflicted,  will  find  every 
necessary  attention  and  want  speedily  and  promptly  satisfied. 

The  institution  is  provided  with  spacious  aud  elegant  bathing  apartments,  with  superior  facul- 
ties for  administering  the  various  baths,  including  the  Turkish,  Electro  Thermal,  Medicited  and 
Sulphur  baths.  The  Electro  Thermal  Bath,  is  a  great  remedy  for  nervous  diseases — diseases  of 
Females,  General  Debility,  Sexual  Weakness,  Ac.,  Ac. 

The  other  Baths  are  especially  adapted  to  the  cure  of  Rheumatism,  Yenerral  Affections, 
-Scrofula,  Ac.,  Ac. 

The  Institution  is  most  eminently  successful  in  the  prosecution  of  its  most  noble  calling,  and 
-no  one  afflicted  will  ever  regret  a  visit  there  and  a  treatment  at  its  hands. 

Send  stamp  for  general  or  illustrated  circular;  also  for  special  treaties  on  Club  Feet,  Paralysis. 
Spinal  Disease,  Hip  Disease,  Piles  and  Fistula,  Pi  ivate  Diseases  and  Diseases . of  .Females. 

Address— Secretary  National  Surgical  Institute.  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 


342 


JTOLLOWAYS  INDIANAP&ZI& 


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J.  D.  EVANS.         A.  J.  FORTNEH.         S.  FORTNER.         M.  H.  FLOYD. 

CT.    ID.    EVJ^TsTS    &c    CO., 

Wholesale  Dealers  in 


ouo: 


No.  75  SOUTH  MERIDIAN  STREET, 

INDIANAPOLIS,  INDIANA. 


HENRY  §EVERIN. 


HENRY  SCHNULL. 


BERG.  APPLEGATE. 


SEVERIN,  SCHNULL  &  Co., 


'jyjEI0mi!JJEl     1 
i.  55  and  57  South  Meridian  Street, 

OPPOSITE  SCHNULL'S  BLOCK, 
INDIANAPOLIS,  INDIANA.. 

WEST,  MORRIS  &  GORRELL, 

Importers  and  Dealers  in 

v  ^£/  iff' 

No.    37    SOUTH    MERIDIAN    STREET, 
INDIANAPOLIS,  IND. 

HENDRICKS,  EDMUNDS  &  CO., 

^Wholesale  Dealers  in 


No.    79    South    Meridian    St., 
INDIANAPOLIS,        -        ...        INDIANA. 


344  BOLLOWATS  1NDIAKAPOLIS. 

PRESENT     MANUFACTURES. 

To  the  foregoing  review  of  our  early  manufactures,  and  observations  on  the 
manufacturing  resources  and  prospects  of  the  city,  we  append  a  necessariiy  brief 
sketch  of  tho  principal  manufacturing  enterprises  of  to-day,  and  a  tabular  state- 
ment at  the  close. 

AGRICULTURAL   IMPLEMENTS. 

The  development  of  this  manufacturing  interest  here  is  not  commensurate 
with  the  demand,  the  advantages  of  situation,  and  the  opportunities  for  profitably 
engaging  in  the  manufacture  of  agricultural  implements  at  this  point. 

Five  manufactories — exclusive  of  these  where  parts  only  of  certain  implement* 
are  made,  and  exclusive  of  wagons,  classed  under  tho  title  of  carriages,  wagons, 
etc. — are  reported  by  the  census,  employing  an  aggregate  of  seventy-five  hands, 
and  their  products  last  year  aggregated  $105,750.  Adding  to  this  aggregate  the 
exceptions  slated,  would  probably  double  it;  with  a  corresponding  increase  in  the 
number  of  hands  employed. 

As  before  stated,  the  opportunities  for  profitable  investment  in  this  description 
of  manufactures  are  inadequately  utilized.  One  considerable  move  in  this  direc- 
tion was  the  establishment  in  1865,  by  a  stock  company,  of  the  Indianapolis  Agri- 
cultural Works,  with  J.  A.  Grosvenor  as  president.  Various  changes  of  stock- 
holders and  officers  have  occurred  since  the  inception  of  the  enterprise,  and  the 
establishment  has  been  diverted  from  its  original  scope  of  production  to  the  manu- 
facture of  heavy  wagons,  carts,  drays,  and  the  like.  This  caused  it  to  be  rechrist- 
ened  The  Indianapolis  Wagon  Works,  its  present  title. 

The  establishment  is  located  directly  south  of  the  depot  of  the  Terre  Haute 
and  Indianapolis  railway;  is  quite  extensive,  and  is  well  supplied  with  approved 
and  valuable  machinery.  The  amount  of  capital  stock  is  $80,000;  number  of 
hands  employed,  fifty-three;  value  of  products  last  year,  $78,000. 

There  is  an  unoccupied  fiold  here  for  the  manufacture  of  plows,  threshers, 
reapers,  mowers,  and  of  the  various  other  leading  agricultural  implements  g^ne- 
rally.  In  respect  to  these,  the  area  of  Agricultural  territory  that  should  be  tributary 
to  this  market  is  of  gr  at  extent  and  opulent  in  agiicultural  capacities;  the  best  of 
materials  for  their  manufacture  are  cheap  and  abundant,  and  the  facilities  for  ship- 
ment unrivalled.  These  advantages  can  hardly  be  much  longer  neglected.  The 
reported  sales  of  agricultural  implements  by  dealers  in  this  city,  during  the  past 
year,  aggregate  $755,687.  The  total  value  of  agricultural  implements  manfactured 
here  during  the  same  period,  was  but  §105,750.  These  figures  illustrate  how  great 
is  the  field  here  for  engaging  in  this  agricultural  interest,  and  how  it  ia  almost  to- 
tally unoccupied. 

BAKERIES. 

The  census  shows  fifteen  establishments  of  this  description,  covering  the  whole 
range  of  products  coming  under  this  head.  They  employ  sixty-seven  hands, 
and  their  aggregate  production  last  year  is  valued  at  $349,386.  Of  these,  the 
largest  establishments  are  those  of  Parrott,  Nickum  &  Co.,  and  the  Aerated  Bread 
Company.  The  former  has  a  very  extensive  wholesale  trade,  chiefly  in  crackers. 
The  latter  manufactures  all  the  different  descriptions  of  bakers'  products,  using  the 
well  known  and  approved  process  of  "raiaing"  the  dough  by  charging  it  with  car* 


J.  D.  VINNEDQE.  A.  JONES.  JR.  W.  8.  ARMSTRONG. 

VIltfNEDGE,  JON£S  cV  Co., 

"Wholesale  Dealers  in 

BOOTS   AND    SHOES, 

IVo.     €56     South.    Meridian.     Street, 


MAXWELL,  FRY  &  THURSTON, 


,lf«Kf)       ft 

Springs,  "Wood  "Work,  and  Blacksmiths'  Tools, 

34  South  Meridian  Street, 
INDIANAPOLIS,        -          -  -        INDIANA. 

W.  D.  WILES.  D.  H.  WILES.  D.  W.  COFFIN.  JOHN  l!  MORRISON. 

~TTT7~T      P       I  •  lf"-N            '  I     )"!"">  S~"\            3-r-        f~**f~*\ 
VV      III"  '^~>3       _tj_tX/V_>'.        OO       V J*-_J .  . 

WHOLESALE  GEOCEES, 

No.  149  South  Meridian  Street, 

INDIANAPOLIS,          -  INDIANA. 


JAMES 

'Wholesale  Dealer  in 

SADDLERY    HARDWARE, 

AND 

Manufacturer  of  Saddles,   Collars,  Etc., 
XTo.  118  South  Meridian  Street,  -          -  -          INDIANAPOLIS,  IND. 


346  SOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

bonic  acid  gas.     The  figures  above  given  show  this  branch  of  industry  to  be  well 
represented  here,  and  prosperous. 

BOOTS   AND    SHOES. 

The  census  reports  over  fifty  manufacturers  of  boots  and  shoes,  employing  an 
aggregate  of  one  hundred  and  thirteen  workmen,  and  their  products  last  year  ag- 
gregating $137,672.  This  manufacturing  interest  is  yet  in  a  primitive  state  of  de- 
velopment, being  confined  to  custom  work,  or  individual  orders,  and  to  the  manu- 
facture in  a  small  way,  by  some  retail  houses,  of  boots  and  shoes  for  their  own 
trade.  What  is  yet  wanting  to  give  this  branch  of  industry  its  proper  importance, 
and  what  could  evidently  be  very  profitably  conducted  here,  is  the  manufacture  of 
boots  and  shoes,  on  a  large  scale,  for  the  wholesale  trade,  as  in  the  East. 

BREWERS. 

The  business  of  manufacturing  malt  liquors  is  extensively  engaged  in  here. 
The  principal  breweries  are  those  of  C.  F.  Schmidt,  J.  P.  Meikel,  P.  Lieber  &  Co., 
Casper  Maus,  Sponsel  &  Bals,  Harting  &  Bro.  and  Frank  Wright.  Of  these,  that 
of  Mr  Wright  is  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  ale  exclusively.  The  aggregate 
capital  employed  is  reported  at  $276,500;  number  of  hands,  fifty-six;  value  of  an- 
nual products,  $286,670.  The  products  of  our  breweries  are  in  excellent  repute 
with  the  trade. 

BUILDERS. 

The  census  report  shows  thirty-four  firms  engaged  in  the  business  of  carpen- 
tering and  building.  Aggregate  capital  employed,  $134,800 ;  aggregate  number 
of  hands,  two  hundred  and  twenty-nine;  aggregate  value  of  products  last  year, 
$391,075.  This  is  exclusive  of  the  products  of  the  planing  mills,  elsewhere  reported, 
and  of  building  improvements  not  included  in  the  returns  of  these  builders. 

BROOMS. 

The  manufacture  of  brooms  at  this  point  is  engaged  in  by  ten  firms,  employ- 
ing twenty-one  hands,  and  producing  last  year  manufactured  products  to  the 
amount  of  $23,932. 

CARRIAGES,    ETC. 

This  manufacturing  interest  is  represented  by  a  number  of  manufactories ; 
the  largest  and  best  known  of  which  are  the  Shaw  &  Lippincott  Manufacturing 
Company,  S.  W.  Drew,  and  George  Lowe&  Company.  The  range  of  production  is 
very  comprehensive,  and  the  facilities  for  making  superior  work,  at  the  lowest  cost, 
are  unsurpassed.  Every  kind  of  spring  vehicle  can  be  obtained  here,  from  the 
simplest  spring  wagon  to  the  most  costly  carriage,  rockaway,  landau,  or  what  not 
style  of  vehicular  architecture.  Specimens  may  be  seen  at  any  time  that  bear 
comparison  with  the  w^rk  of  any  similar  manufactory  in  the  United  States.  For 
reasons  already  stated,  this  point  affords  extraordinary  advantages  for  profitably 
engaging  in  this  species  of  manufactures:  easy  and  cheap  access  to  the  best  lum- 
ber, and  unequaled  facilities  for  shipment  of  the  manufactured  products. 

Including  the  several  grades  of  vehicles  not  elsewhere  classed  under  the  head 
of  agricultural  implements,  and  the  extensive  establishment  known  as  the  Wood- 


B.  0.  SHAW,  President. 
T..C.  BEADING,  Supt. 


8.  K.  LIPPINCOTT,  Sec.  &  Tread" 
J.  H.  F.  TOMPKINS,  Ass't. 


Carriage  Manufacturing  Company, 


PROPRIETORS  OF 

INDIANAPOLIS   COACH  WORKS, 

Nos.  S(t  to  34a  East  Georgia  Street, 
INDIANAPOLIS,  -  INDIANA. 

THE    EVENING-   NEWS 


IS    PUBLISHED    AT 


IVo.    IS    IVorth.    Meridian    Street, 


EVERY  DAY  EXCEPT  SU1SI>AY. 


PRICE  PEK  COPY, 
"  "       YEAH,    - 


2  CENTS. 
-     $5,OO. 


The  EYENING  NEWS  has  the  largest  circulation  of  any  daily  paper  in  the  State  of  Indiana, 
and  more  than  three  thousand  copies  are  distributed  daily  in  the  city.  Its  rates  for  advertising  are- 
lower  in  proportion  to  its  circulation  than  those  of  any  other  paper.  Business  men  will  find  it  s» 
valuable  advertising  medium. 

Specimen   Copies   Furnished,  on  Application* 


aOLL&WATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

burn  S'irvin  Wheel  Company,  this  interest  represents  a  capital  of  $585,000-  gives 
•employment  to  four  hundred  and  fifty-one  hands,  and  yielded  last  year  products  to 
the  value  of  about  $450,300. 

CEMENT   DBAIN   JPIPE*. 

The  Indiana  Cement  Pipe  Company  was  organized  in  the  fall  sf  1869,  with 
a  capital  of  $15,000 — commenced  operations  in  the  spring  of  1870,  and  employed 
through  the  year  from  eight  to  twelve  men.  The  sales  for  1870  amounted  to  about 
$10,000. 

The  officers  for  1871  are:  T.  B.  McCarty,  President;  3.  W.  Dodd,  Secretary 
and  Treasurer;  Henry  Willis,  Superintendent. 

The  company  manufacture  cement  pipe  from  three  to  thirty  inches  diameter, 
for  house  drains,  sewers,  land  drains,  culverts  under  streets,  railroads  and  gravel 
roads.  They  also  manufacture  wrought  iron  water  pipe,  lined  with  and  laid  in 
cement,  which  preserves  the  iron  and  insures  the  cofisumer  pare  water.  This  pipe 
«an  be  made  to  stand  aay  pressure,  is  cheaper  than  east  iron  pipe,  and  is  rapidly 
growing  in  favor  wherever  it  is  used. 

The  company  ewn  the  exclusive  right  to  use  a  patented  process  for  carbon- 
izing or  hardening  manufactures  of  cetnemt,  lime  and  eand,  and  are  now  making  a 
handsome,  durable  and  cheap  stone  for  building  and  paving.  By  the  use  of  this 
process,  cement  pipe  can  be  so  hardened  as  to  stand  a  great  degree  ©f  heat,  making 
at  available  for  chimneys,  flues  for  green  heuses,  air  pipes  for  furnaces,  etc. 

-COTTON   MANUFACTURES. 

This  interest  is  represeEted  by  but  one  establishment,  the  Indianapolis  Cotton 
Manufactory,  devoted  to  the  manufacture  ef  cotton  warp.  This  enterprise  was 
-started  in  October,  186§,  by  a  stock  company  composed  of  C.  E.  Geisendorff  &  Co^ 
John  Thomas,  Henry  Schnull,  W.  W.  Leathers,  T.  B.  McCarty,  and  R.  B.  Duncan. 
The  erection  of  the  building — located  on  the  canal,  just  inside  the  city  limits — 
was  completed  in  the  winter  of  1&67.  Upwards  of  $100,000  have  been  expended 
in  machinery.  The  establishment  has  about  f«rty-one  thousand  spindles  and  forty 
•cards.  It  gives  employment  to  fifty-six  hands,  and  the  valtie  of  its  products  last 
year  was  $300,000. 

The  warp  manufactured  here  finds  a  ready  market  on  account  of  its  quality  and 
the  favorable  prices  at  whick  it  can  be  made.  The  only  changes  in  the  original 
-ownership,  we  believe,  have  been  the  transfer  of  the  interest  of  C.  E.  Geisendorff  & 
Co.  to  General  Nathan  Kimball,  and  the  admissien  ef  several  new  stockholders  by 
reason  of  aa  increase  of  the  capital  of  the  association. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  company,  originally  $100,000,  has  been  increased  te 
$200,000.  Tfee  officers  of  tke  company  are:  President,  John  Thomas;  Secretary, 
Willkm  Wilson ;  Treasurer,  Wm.  Roe. 

This  enterprise,  whose  success  was  doubted  by  many  at  its  inception,  ha* 
proven  a  remunerative  investment,  aad  its  prosperity  invites  further  investments 
in  cotton  maaufactures  at  thie  point. 

CIAJTHINCL 

The  manufacture  of  clothing  in  this  city,  like  that  of  boots  and  shoes,  is  chiefly 
^confined  to  what  is  called  "custom  work,"  there  being  no  extensive  manufactory 


SPIEGEL,  THOMS  «fc  CO., 

Manufacturers,  Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealers  is 


Warerooms  71  &  73  West  Washington  Street     Factory,  South  East  Street, 
INDIANAPOLIS,  INDIANA, 


INDIANAPOLIS    LIGHTNING    ROD   WORKS. 


Mmmg  MM, 


WITH    SPIRAL    FLANGES, 


The  Cheaptgf  and  Most  Complete  Prelection  against  Disaster   by  Lightning  ever  Invented 


This  Rod  has  been  erected  on  more  than  Fire  Thousand  Buildings  in  and  around 
Indianapolis  dnrinjr  the  past  few  years  ;  and  in  many  cities  of  the  country  similar 
success  has  attended  its  introduction.  Wherever  it  is  known  its  sales  increase  each 
succeeding  year. 

Also,  Manufacturers  of  Cable  Rods,  at  Wholesale  and  Retail. 


ORDERS  FROM  THE  TRADE  SOLICITED. 

And  other*  who  would  be  inclined  to  take  hold  of  a  business  Uke  this.     Address 

DAVID    MUNSON, 
Manufacturer  and  Patentee,  Indianapolis,  Ind, 


Patented  August  6,  1856. 
Patented  November  1,  1864. 
Extended  August  5,  1870. 
Patented  March  8,  1870. 


Patented  November  17,  1868. 
Patented  January  3,  1871. 
Patented  February  11,  1868. 
Point  Patented  February  1,  1870. 


350  SOLLOWArS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

of  clothing  for  the  wholesale  trade.  The  census  reports  twenty-seven  establish- 
ments, whose  products  last  year  aggregated  $460,940.  These  employ,  in  the  aggre- 
gate, two  hundred  and  fifty-six  workmen.  Among  these  are  several  merchant 
tailoring  establishments  of  the  first  class,  with  respect  to  the  qualities  and  styles  of 
their  work.  The  manufacture  of  clothiug,  m  a  large  way,  for  the  general  trade, 
could  doubtless  be  profitably  carried  on  here. 

CONFECTIONERY. 

This  interest  has  attained,  within  a  few  years,  a  very  respectable  magnitude 
comparing  favorably  with  other  manufactories  in  proportion  to  the  relative  con- 
sumption. The  census  shows  twelve  manufacturers  of  confectionery,  employing 
thirty-four  hands,  and  producing  candies  to  the  value  of  $135.192  last  year.  The 
leading  establishments  are  those  of  Daggett  &  Co.,  and  Dukemineer  &  Co.  The 
candies  manufactured  here  are  of  high  repute  among  the  trade,  because  of  their 
freedom  from  unwholesome  adulteration. 

COOPKRS. 

By  reason  of  an  abundant  and  cheap  supply  of  the  best  lumber  in  the  coun- 
try, of  extraordinary  facilities  for  shipping  the  manufactured  products,  as  well  as 
of  the  extensive  local  demand,  the  manufacture  of  coopers'  products  here  is  an 
extensive  and  prosperous  business.  The  census  returns  fourteen  establishments  of 
this  description,  employing  one  hundred  and  ninety-eight  hands.  The  aggregate 
value  of  their  products  last  year  to  was  $310,160. 

COFFEE   AND   SPICE   MILLS. 

There  are  two  large,  substantial,  and  prosperous  establishments  in  this  city  en- 
gaged in  the  business  of  grinding  coffee  and  spices,  and  putting  them  up  in  that 
form  for  the  wholesale  trade,  namely:  H.  H.  Lee  and  Maguire  &  Gillespie. 

Mr  Lee's  establishment  is  located  at  the  intersection  of  Meridian  street  and 
Madison  avenue,  and  is  complete  in  all  respects.  It  was  opened  in  June  1871. 
The  celebrity  previously  held  by  its  proprietor  as  a  dealer  in  teas  and  coffees  in  this 
city,  the  completeness  of  the  establishment,  and  the  reliable  quality  of  the  goods, 
secured  for  the  new  venture  an  immediate  recognition  and  an  extensive  patronage; 
and  already,  in  the  first  few  months,  it  has  attained  a  fixed  prosperity  and  high 
standing  among  the  manufacturing  enterprises  of  the  city. 

The  coffee  and  spice  mills  of  Mnguire  &  Gillespie,  No  31  East  Maryland 
street,  were  established  in  1862  by  A.  Stephens  &  Son,  who  retired  in  1864.  Their 
successors  were  Messrs.  Judson  &  Dodd,  who  were  succeeded,  in  1869,  by  the 
present  firm  of  Mnguire  and  Gillespie. 

The  amount  of  capital  invested  is  $25,000;  ten  hands  are  employed;  and  the 
value  of  products  last  year  was  about  $70,000.  In  the  rear  of  the  store  room  is 
located  the  mill,  operated  by  steam,  in  which  at  the  coffee  is  roasted  and  ground, 
and  in  which  the  spices  are  ground. 

FERTILIZING   PRODUCTS. 

An  establishment  of  considerable  magnitude,  entitled  the  "Indianapolis  Hair 
and  Bristle  Works,"  located  on  the  corner  of  West  and  Wisconsin  streets,  was 


J/0.  BUBTON.  W.  A.  PFAFF.  J.  W.  PFAFF. 

JOHN   C.  BURTON   &   CO., 

Wholesale  Sealtrs  is 


JVb.  114  South  Meridian  Street, 
INDIANAPOLIS,         -  INDIAXA. 


No,  4  East  Washington  Street,  Yohn's  Block,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 


,     JBU  ®     W  ®     E3P  MS,  *  ^ 
Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealer  in 


Theological,  Miscellaneous  and  School  Books, 


Of  all    Denominations.     BLANK  BOOKS,  PAPER,  ENVELOPES,  and  STATIONERY  of  all 
Kinds.     Depositorj  of  the  Publications  of  the  Methodist  Book  Concern. 


W.  J.  HOLLIDAY  &  CO., 

DEALERS  IN 


NUTS,  BOLTS,  BLACKSMITHS'  TOOLS, 

Hubs,  Felloes,  Spokes,  Carriage  Trimmings,  Etc,, 

JVb.  69  South  Meridian  Street, 
INDIANAPOLIS,  -  INDIANA 

S.  C.  DONALDSON.  D.  E.  STOUT. 

DOlTAIjDSOItf  <&  STOUT, 

Jobbers  of 

Hats,  Caps,  Furs,  Gloves 


STRA.W    QOOI3S, 

No.  54  South  Meridian  Street,  -  -  INDIANAPOLIS,  IKD 


352  SOLLOWATS  TNDIANAPOLTS. 

begun  in  1864  by  Lewis  F.  Lannay.     It  occupies  about  three  acres  of  ground,  and 
employs  from  thirty-six  to  forty-two  hands. 

Since  1868,  its  productions  have  been  ground  bone  and  other  fertilizers' 
Prior  to  that  time  the  establishment  was  also  engaged  in  dressing  bristles  and  pre- 
paring hair  for  upholsterers'  purposes.  As  now  conducted,  there  is  no  other  similar 
manufactory  west  of  the  Allegheny  mountains.  The  capacity  of  the  concern  is 
about  three  hundred  tuns  of  fertilizing  products  per  annum. 

FLOUR. 

The  first  flouring  mill  in  this  city  was  built  by  John  Carlisle,  in  1840.  Like 
most  other  branches  of  trade  and  manufactures,  the  manufacture  of  flour  has  grown 
in  proportion  to  the  growth  of  the  city  in  population  and  commercial  and  manu- 
facturing importance  Indeed,  the  growth  of  this  particular  interest  has  been 
relatively  greater  than  the  growth  of  other  interests,  and  for  obvious  reasons. 

Favorably  situated  in  a  highly  productive  agricultural  region,  with  railways 
radiating  in  every  direction,  facilitating  the  importation  of  grain  directly  and  at 
the  lowest  cost,  and  affording  ready  outlets  to  tho  markets  for  the  products  of  its 
mills,  and  having  abunuant  water  power,  the  manufacture  of  flour  has  grown  and 
prospered  here  in  obedience  to  the  plainest  natural  laws. 

The  value  of  the  products  of  our  city  mills,  representing  a  capital  of  $371,500, 
during  the  past  year,  was  $1,656,300. 

The  year  1870  was  one  of  but  moderate  prosperity  to  flour  mannfacturers;  the 
market  being  without  animation,  and  trade  being  depressed  throughout  most  of  the 
year.  This  low  state  of  vitality  kept  prices  uniformly  low,  affording  scant  mar- 
gins, and  frequently  no  margins,  for  profits.  The  supply  was  generally  in  excess 
or'  the  demand.  The  European  demand  was  less  than  usual ;  and  even  the  Franco- 
Prussian  war,  which  was  expected  to  stimulate  the  market  in  this  country,  depressed 
it  rather. 

FOUNDRIES,  ROLLING   MILLS,  MACHINE   SHOPS,  METAL   MANUFACTURES  GENERALLY. 

For  the  sake  of  brevity,  the  different  manufactories  in  this  city  comprehended 
in  the  above  caption,  are  here  grouped  under  one  head.  Combined,  these  consti- 
tute the  most  extensive  manufacturing  interest  in  the  city,  representing  an  aggre- 
gate capital  of  $1,791,700  employing  an  aggregate  of  1,427  operatives,  and  yielding 
products,  during  the  past  year,  to  the  aggregate  value  of  $2,961,665. 

Rolling  Mills. — There  are  two  large  manufactories  of  this  description:  "The 
Indianapolis  Rolling  Mill,"  and  the  "Capital  City  Iron  Works." 

The  former  is  devoted  to  the  rolling  and  rerolling  of  railroad  iron ;  the  latter, 
to  the  manufacture  of  the  various  descriptions  of  merchant  iron. 

In  respect  of  the  capital  and  number  of  operatives  employed  and  of  the  value 
of  products,  this  is  the  leading  manufacturing  enterprise  in  this  city.  It  was 
established  ia  1858.  by  R.  A.  Douglas.  At  a  later  date,  the  late  James  Blake  was 
associated  with  Mr.  Douglas  in  the  concern.  It  has  gone  on  increasing  in  magni- 
tude from  year  to  year,  until  it  is  now  owned  by  an  incorporated  company,  and 
has  a  capital  stock  of  $600.000,  is  capable  of  rerolling  one  hundred  tons  daily,  and 
employs  an  average  of  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  operatives.  The  value  of  its 
products  yearly  is  about  $800,000.  It  has  the  reputation  of  producing  the  best 
iron  rails  in  the  United  States — claimed  to  be  superior  to  the  English  rails. 


BOWEN,  STEWART  *  Co., 

1  6  and  18  West  Washington  St., 


BOOK  AND  PAPER  HOUSE, 

Orders  Pilled  for  all  kinds  of 

BOOKS  AND  PAPER,  SCHOOL  BOOKS, 

MISCELLANEOUS  BOOKS, 
ENVELOPES  AND  BLANK  BOOKS, 

LETTER,  NOTE,  AND  CAP  PAPERS, 
WRAPPING  PAPER,  BONNET  BOARDS, 

Together  with  anything  and  everything  usually  found  in  a 


BOWEN,  STEWART  &  CO., 

New  Iron  Front,  16  &  18  West  Washington  st,  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 


T 


IE 


f4>          faff 
if  It 


Has  connected  with  it  the  LARGEST  and  BEST  APPOINTED 

Printing,  Binding, 


STEREOTYPING  ESTABLISHMENT 

IN  THE  STATE* 

Having  been  recently  refitted  with  NEW  MACHINERY,  together  with  the  latest  styles  of- 
TYPE  AND  ORNAMENTAL  MATERIAL,  is  fully  prepared  to  do  every  description  of  General 
Letter-Press  Printing,  in  the  Very  Best  Manner  and  at  Moderate  Prices.  We  make  a  specialty  of 
Railroad  Work,  Wood  Cut  Printing,  and  Colored  Poster  Work,  as  well  as  every  variety  of  Commer- 
cial and  Mercantile  Printing. 

OUR  BINDERY  being  fitted  up  with  the  most  approved  machinery,  we  can  do  Embossed 
Cloth  Work  in  any  desired  style,  and  at  low  rates.  We  are  prepared  to  execute  all  kinds  of  Blank 
Work  for  County  Officers,  with  promptness,  and  in  a  manner  that  we  will  warrant  to  give  entire 
satisfaction  Railroad  Officers,  Bankers,  and  Merchants,  when  in  need  of  Blank  Books,  are  re- 
quested to  give  us  a  trial.  Having  a 

STEREOTYPES  FOUNDRY 

in  connection  with  our  establishment,  we  are  enabled,  ty  our  new  and   improved  process,  to  make 
PLATES  equal  to  any  in  the  West.     Our  prices  are  the  same  as  other  first  class  places. 

BSf"  Estimates  of  every  description  carefully  made,  and  letters  of  inquiry  cheerfully  answered. 

Address, 

INDIANAPOLIS  JOURNAL  CO. 

(23) 


354  HOLLOWATTS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

Its  present  officers  are:  President,  John  M.  Lord;  Secretary,  C.  B.  Parkman; 
Treasurer,  Aquilla  Jones,  Sr.  The  most  of  the  capital  is  owned  by  resident  stock 
holders. 

The  Capital  City  Iron  Works  are  owned  by  Messrs.  Valentine  Butsch,  James 
Dickson,  Fred.  P.  Rusch,  J.  C.  Brinkmeyer,  and  Wm.  Sims,  and  were  established 
in  1867. 

This  enterprise  had  to  encounter  the  usual  opposition  of  similar  Eastern  estab- 
lishments; which  was  at  first  successful.  For  a  time  they  sold  their  iron  in  this 
city  cheaper  than  it  could  be  produced  here.  But  this  practice  was  of  brief  duration ; 
and  presently  it  came  to  pass  that  the  home  establishment  could  offer  superior  in- 
ducements, in  respect  of  both  qualities  and  prices.  It  has  followed  as  a  natural 
sequence  that  this  rolling  mill  has  obtained  all  the  demand  it  can  supply.  Its 
products  find  a  demand  in  a  large  area  of  western  territory — are  sold  in  consider- 
able quantities  in  such  large  and  remote  cities  as  St.  Louis,  itself  situated  in  an  ex- 
tensive iron  and  coal  region.  The  superior  advantages  of  this  city  for  manufac- 
tures of  this  description  are  manifest:  coal  peculiarly  adapted  for  the  purpose, 
speedy  access  to  the  ore,  and  extraordinary  facilities  for  the  shipment  of  the  manu- 
factured iron  in  every  direction. 

Of  the  once  mooted  question  whether  such  a  manufactory  could  be  profitably 
conducted  here,  in  competition  with  the  extensive  and  long  established  manufac- 
tories of  the  East,  the  success  of  this  enterprise  aifords  conclusive  proof  in  the 
affirmative. 

The  possible  producing  capacity  of  the  Works  is  about  twenty  tuns  daily,  or 
products  to  the  value  of  $480,000  per  annum.  The  number  of  hands  now  employed 
is  about  seventy,  and  is  soon  to  be  increased  to  one  hundred  and  forty.  The  capital 
employed  is  about  $150,000.  The  Works  have  twelve  puddling  and  two  smelting 
furnaces. 

Iron  Foundries  and  Machine  Shops. — Under  this  head  is  grouped  an  extensive 
range  of  products,  and  several  establishments  of  the  first  rank.  Of  these  the  prin- 
cipal are:  The  Eagle  Machine  Works;  Sinker  &  Davis;  D.  Hoot  &  Co.;  Green- 
leaf  «&  Co. ;  Chandler  &  Taylor  (Phenix  Machine  Works);  Hetherington  &  Co.; 
Frink  &  Moore  (Union  Novelty  Works) ;  Mothershead  &  Co. ;  the  Dean  Brothers. 

The  Eagle  Machine  Works  were  established  here  in  1848  by  Watson,  Voorhees 
&  Co.,  under  the  name  of  the  Washington  Foundry.  Two  years  later  the  property 
was  purchased  by  Messrs.  Hasselman  &  Vinton.  Under  this  new  firm  it  outgrew 
all  resemblance  to  its  primitive  condition.  By  fires  in  1854  and  1855,  or  thereabout, 
the.firm  lost  property  worth  nearly  $100,000,  on  which  there  was  no  insurance. 
These  losses  were  repaired;  the  scope  and  extent  of  the  establishment  were  rapidly 
enlarged;'  and  in  1865  it  passed  into  the  ownership  of  a  joint  stock  company,  Mr. 
Hasselman  retaining  a  one-third  interest.  It  is  still  owned  by  a  joint  stock  com- 
,pany,  and  its  extent,  the  range  and  quality  of  its  productions,  its  resources  and 
prosperity,  attest  the  sagacity  and  prudence  of  its  management,  and  the  advanta- 
geousness  of  its  location.  The  principal  articles  manufactured  at  the  Eagle  Ma- 
chine Works  are  engines,  boilers,  saw  mills  and  threshing  machines,  the  latter  be- 
ing made  a  specialty. 

The  firm  of  Sinker  &  Davis  have  for  many  years  been  the  proprietors  and  con- 
ductors of  a  well  known  and  extensive  establishment,  occupying  the  same  field  of 
production — except  as  to  threshing  Machines — as  the  Eagle  Machine  Works,  and 
like  the  latter  has  grown  to  be  an  extensive  and  important  establishment,  with  an 
excellent  reputation  for  the  quality  of  its  products.  The  death  of  the  senior  mem- 


MANUFACTURE!,.  355 

ber  of  the  house,  E.  T.  Sinker,  Esq.,  in  April  last,  was  followed  shortly  after  by  a 
fire;  the  one  producing  a  change  of  the  firm,  and  the  other  operating  a  temporary 
interruption  of  business.  Mr.  Alfred  T.  Sinker  has  succeeded  to  his  deceased  fa- 
ther's  interest  in  the  establishment,  and  the  destruction  by  the  fire  was  promptly 
repaired. 

The  Stove  Foundry  of  D.  Koot  &  Co.  was  established  in  1850  by  Deloss  &  J. 
K.  Root.  Through  several  changes  of  the  firm  Mr.  Deloss  Koot  has  remained  the 
senior  and  principal  propietor.  Advantages  of  location  have  been  utilized  by  ca- 
pable management.  The  establishment  has  grown  from  year  to  year  in  resources 
and  extent,  and  its  capacities  are  quite  up  with  the  times.  About  eighty  different 
patterns  of  stoves  for  various  uses,  everything  in  the  way  of  "hollow  ware,"  and 
cast  iron  fronts  for  houses,  sufficiently  outline  the  products  of  this  foundry. 

The  foundry  of  Greenleaf  &  Co.  was  established  in  1865  by  Wm.  E.  Greenleaf. 
It  was  a  small  concern  at  the  start,  but  has  since  become  a  very  extensive  estab- 
lishment. In  May,  1870,  the  property  passed  to  the  ownership  of  a  stock  company, 
and  was  styled  the  Greenleaf  Machine  Works.  The  specialty  of  this  establishment 
is  heavy  castings.  A  cylinder  manufactured  here  in  1 868  was  extensively  noticed 
at  the  time  in  the  public  prints  as  being  the  largest  ever  cast  in  the  State,  and,  with 
one  or  two  exceptions,  in  the  West.  Line-shafting,  rolling-mill  and  blast-furnace 
castings  and  machinery,  railroad  turn-tables,  steam  engines,  &c.,  are  prominent 
classes  of  the  products  of  this  foundry. 

The  Phenix  Machine  Works  were  established  in  1859  by  Messrs.  T.  E.  Chand- 
ler and  C.  P.  Wiggins.  After  several  changes  of  firm  we  find  Messrs.  Chandler  & 
Taylor  the  present  proprietors.  The  history  of  the  establishment  has  been  one  of 
continuous  increase  in  resources  and  prosperity.  Messrs.  Chandler  &  Taylor  are 
manufacturers  of  engines,  saw  mills,  and  the  various  kinds  of  smaller  machinery. 

The  foundry  of  Hetherington  &  Co.  was  established  in  1864  by  Mr.  B.  F.  Heth- 
erington.  It  was  a  small  affair  at  first,  but  has  grown  to  be  a  large  establishment 
now.  This  establishment  makes  a  great  variety  of  the  smaller  grades  of  castings 
and  machines. 

The  Union  Novelty  Works  were  established  in  1862  by  Dr.  S.  C.  Prink,  E.  0. 
Frink  and  H.  A.  Moore.  An  establishment  of  no  great  magnitude  at  first,  it  flour- 
ished so  well  that  by  1868  it  had  grown  to  the  dignity  of  a  joint  stock  company, 
with  Dr.  Frink  as  President,  Mr.  H.  A.  Moore  as  Superintendent,  a  large  capital 
stock,  and  an  extensive  business.  It  was  now  named  the  Union  Novelty  Works, 
The  leading  articles  manufactured  by  the  company  are  bed  irons,  sad  irons,  Frink's 
safety  hinge,  the  Novelty  gate  latch,  gate  hinges  and  Frink  &  Moore's  patent  street 
box  for  gas  and  water.  In  addition  to  these  articles  they  have  some  fifty  others  oa 
their  list  for  which  there  is  a  growing  demand,  and  the  company  are  enlarging 
their  works  and  manufacturing  facilities  as  rapidly  as  means  will  admit. 

The  foundry  of  Mothershead  &  Co.,  established  in  1864,  is  an  extensive  insti- 
tution, devoted  principally  to  the  manufacture  of  stoves  and  hollow-ware. 

The  latest  addition  to  the  list  of  foundries  and  machine  shops,  located  in  this 
city,  is  the  extensive  manufactory  of  the  Dean  Brothers,  located  at  the  junction  of 
the  Jeffersonville  Railroad  and  Madison  Avenue.  It  was  built  during  the  summer 
and  fall  of  1870,  and  was  opened  on  the  1st  of  January,  1871.  The  amount  of  cap- 
ital invested  in  this  manufactory  is  $30,000.  The  average  number  of  hands  em- 
ployed is  fifty.  The  range  of  production  embraces  woolen  machinery,  steam  en- 
gines, baling  presses,  trucks,  shafting,  machinery  castings  of  every  description. 

Boiler  Yards. — The  only  firm  exclusively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  boil- 


356  HOLLOWAT'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

ers  is  Dumont  &  Roberts ;  but  this  branch  of  manufacturing  is  extensively  engaged 
in  by  some  of  the  establishments  named  under  the  head  of  "  Foundries  and  Ma- 
chine Shops,"  particularly  by  the  Eagle  Machine  Works,  and  by  the  firm  of  Sinker 
&  Davis. 

Iron  Railings,  etc. — B.  F.  Haugh  &  Co ,  whose  establishment  was  founded  in 
1850,  employ  forty  workmen  in  the  manufacture  of  iron  railings,  all  descriptions 
of  iron  work  used  in  the  construction  of  public  and  private  buildings,  iron  fronts, 
and,  especially,  iron  jails;  in  which  last  respect  this  house  has  gained  a  widespread 
reputation  and  patronage. 

Saw  Works. — This  interest  is  represented  by  the  extensive  and  well  known 
establishment  of  E.  C.  Atkins  &  Co.  and  George  W.  Atkins  &  Co.  (late  Alfred  T, 
Sinker),  whose  range  of  production  covers  everything  in  the  line  of  saws.  Their 
capacities  and  prosperity  are  too  well  known  to  require  extended  mention  here. 
The  value  of  the  products  of  these  establishments,  for  the  year  ending  June  1st, 
1870.  was  $150,000. 

Engine  Governors. — Charles  A.  Conde  &  Co.  are  proprietors  of  an  establish- 
ment devoted  exclusively  to  the  manufacture  of  steam  governors. 

Files. — The  manufacture  of  files  is  represented  by  the  establishment  of  Dratz 
&  Steinhauer,  258  South  Pennsylvania  street. 

Cast-Iron  Mail  Boxes. — Reitz  &  Allen,  owners  of  the  patent,  are  manufactu- 
rers of  a  patent  cast-iron  mail  box,  an  invention  for  which  superiority  over  other 
similar  devices  is  claimed,  and  for  which  an  extended  demand  is  reported. 

Brass  Foundries. — The  "Eagle  Brass  Works"  and  the  "Phenix  Brass  Foun- 
dry" are  two  well  known  and  prosperous  establishments  of  extensive  resources  and 
capacities,  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  plumbers'  goods,  gas  and  steam  fittings, 
bells,  and  so  forth,  throughout  the  nomenclature  of  brass  manufactures. 

Copper. — The  manufacture  of  the  various  descriptions  of  copper  ware,  exclu- 
sively, is  carried  on  by  William  Langenskamp,  at  No.  96  South  Delaware  street. 
The  manufacture  of  copper  products  forms  also  a  part  of  the  business  of  each  of 
the  under-mentioned  tin  and  copper  ware  manufacturers. 

Tin  and  Copper  Ware. — The  manufacture  of  tin  and  copper  ware  is  carried  on 
by  a  large  number  of  establishments,  principal  among  which  are:  E.  Johnson  & 
Co.;  D.  Root  &  Co. ;  Tutewiler  Bros. ;  Johnston  Bros. ;  R.  L.  McOuat;  Jacob  Vceg- 
tle;  Charles  Cox;  Wolfram  Bros.;  and  Meyers  &  Martin.  The  number  of  work- 
men employed  and  the  amount  of  capital  invested  in  the  business,  and  value  of  the 
products,  make  this  a  prominent  branch  of  Indianapolis  manufactures. 

FURNITUBB. 

The  present  furniture-manufacturing  firm  of  Spiegel  &  Thorns  was  the 
pioneer  establishment  of  this  description,  and  began  its  prosperous  career  in 
1865.  This  manufactory  has  outgrown  all  resemblance  to  the  diminutive  establish- 
ment of  16  years  ago,  and  this  interest  in  general  has  grown  in  the  same  propor- 
tion. For  the  manufacture  of  furniture  this  location  has  an  unusual  combination 
of  advantages — peculiar  advantages  in  the  respects  of  abundant  supplies  of  cheap 
material,  cheap  production,  and  a  ready  outlet  for  the  manufactured  products. 

The  census  reports  show  eighteen  establishments  of  this  description,  represent- 
ing an  aggregate  capital  of  $409,050;  employing  326  hands,  and  producing  furni- 
ture last  year  to  the  value  of  $475,290.     Of  these,  the  heaviest  establishments  are : 
Spiegel,  Thorns  &  Co. ;  Indianapolis  Chair  Factory ;  and  Cabinet  Makers'  Union 
These  are  very  extensive  and  prosperous  establishments. 


MANUFACTURES.  357 

GLASS. 

The  establishment  of  the  Indianapolis  Glass  Works,  in  February,  1870,  was 
as  well  a  prudent  investment  for  its  proprietors  as  a  valuable  and  needed  addi- 
tion to  the  productive  industry  of  Indianapolis.  For,  by  reason  of  the  proximity, 
in  abundance  and  cheapness,  of  the  requisite  materials  for  the  manufacture  of 
glass,  of  the  shipping  facilities  for  the  manufactured  articles,  and  of  the  large  field  of 
trade  naturally  and  readily  supplied  from  this  place,  the  manufacture  of  glass  can 
be  more  profitably  engaged  in  here  than  at  most  of  the  points  celebrated  for  this 
class  of  production. 

The  present  establishment  is  owned  by  Messrs.  Butsch  &  Dickson,  P.  Ritzinger, 
Charles  Brinkman,  and  Jos.  Descbler.  It  is  an  extensive  concern,  having  a  capi- 
tal of  $100,000,  and  employing  eighty-one  hands.  The  value  of  its  products  last 
year  was  $135,000.  The  range  of  production  is  hollow  ware — such  as  druggists' 
green  glassware,  various  sizes  and  descriptions  of  bottles,  fruit  jars  of  different  pat- 
terns, and  so  forth. 

This  undertaking  is  only  a  move  in  the  right  direction.  It  has  confirmed  by 
experience  what  was  theoretically  apparent  before — that  the  manufacture  of  glass 
can  be  profitably  engaged  in  here  in  competition  with  the  older  and  more  recog- 
nized manufacturing  points.  With  all  the  conditions  of  prosperity  for  manufac- 
tures in  this  field,  with  the  early  and  large  success  of  the  present  initial  undertak- 
ing, it  follows  that  this  interest  should,  and  will  at  an  early  date,  occupy  the  whole 
field  of  glass  manufacture. 

GLUE. 

The  manufacture  of  this  article  is  engaged  in  by  John  H.  Goas  &  Co.  The 
establishment — the  Indianapolis  Glue  Manufactory — is  located  on  the  Michigan 
road,  opposite  Camp  Morton.  This  manufactory  employs  twelve  hands. 

This  initial  experiment  in  the  manufacture  of  glue  here  has  been  a  success, 
and  invites  further  investments  in  the  same  manufacturing  interest.  It  is  shown 
that  a  superior  article  can  be  made  here  and  profitably  sold  at  the  best  rates  offered 
by  competing  manufacturers  elsewhere  located. 

SADDLES,  HARNESS,  ETC. 

This  interest  is  represented  by  thirteen  establishments,  according  to  the  recent 
census,  employing  an  aggregate  of  sixty- eight  hands,  and  producing,  last  year, 
merchandise  to  the  value  of  $161,690.  The  leading  establishments  are  those  of 
James  Sulgrove,  A  Hereth,  George  K.  Share  &  Co.,  James  M.  Buffer,  Frauer, 
Beeler  &  Co.,  D.  Sellers  &  Co.  The  products  of  the  Indianapolis  harness  manufac- 
turers are  in  excellent  standing  with  the  trade;  and  it  is  generally  known  that  the 
business  can  be  profitably  conducted  here,  in  competition  with  other  prominent 
manufacturing  points. 

HUMAN   HAIR   MANUFACTURES. 

There  are  five  establishments  of  this  class:  F.  J.  Medina,  Mrs.  S.  L.  Stevens,  M. 
H.  Spades,  Muir  &  Foley,  and  J.  T.  Mahorney.  The  aggregate  value  of  their  pro- 
ducts last  year  is  reported  at  $40,000;  and  the  total  number  of  hands  employed,  at 
twenty-four. 

The  range  of  articles  made  by  these  establishments  embrace  the  entire  list : 
such  as  wigs,  toupees,  switches,  curls,  chignons,  braids,  puffs,  front  bands,  etc.^ 
the  material  used  by  all  of  them  being  human  hair  only.^None  of  them  are  en- 


BOLL  OWAT'S  IND I A  NAPOLIS. 
LEATHER  AND   BELTING. 

gaged,  either  wholly  or  in  part,  in  the  manufacture  of  articles  out  of  the  various 
substitutes  for  and  imitations  of  human  hair. 

The  census  reports  six  manufactures  classable  under  the  above  title,  having  an 
aggregate  capital  of  $60,000,  and  employing  sixty  hands.  The  aggregate  value  of 
the  products  of  these  last  year  is  reported  at  $200,000. 

Leather. — John  Fishback,  corner  of  Sixth  street  and  Michigan  road,  is  exten- 
sively engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  the  various  descriptions  of  shoe  and  saddle 
leather.  The  products  of  his  tannery  rank  with  the  best  in  the  west  and  northwest. 

Frederick  Will,  East  Washington  street,  also  manufactures  good  qualities  of 
shoe  and  saddle  leather. 

Sheepskin  Tanners. — M.  Doherty  &  Co.  and  G.  W.  Borst,  are  extensive  tanners 
of  sheep  skins,  and  manufacture  what  are  known  to  the  trade  as  pink  linings  and 
pad  skins.  Their  products  are  of  superior  quality. 

Leather  Belting. — The  houses  of  Moony  &  Co.,  and  the  Hide,  Leather  and 
Belting  Co.,  are  manufacturers  of  this  article;  and  the  merits  of  their  goods  are 
attested  by  the  great  demand  for  them,  which  is  almost  always  ahead  of  the  supply. 

LIGHTNING   RODS. 

This  interest  is  represented  here  by  the  Indiana  Lightning  Rod  Company.  In 
1856,  Mr.  David  Munson  invented  and  patented  a  copper,  tubular,  spiral,  flanged 
lightning  rod.  The  necessary  steps  to  secure  him  in  his  invention  having  been 
taken,  a  manufactory  was  opened  at  No.  62  East  Washington  street.  In  1857,  Mr. 
Munson  took  into  partnership  Josiah  Locke,  and  for  two  years  the  business  was 
most  successfully  carried  on.  The  succeeding  threee  years,  at  the  end  of  which  the 
partnership  terminated,  were  not  marked  with  the  success  of  the  former  two,  and 
after  the  dissolution  of  the  firm  in  1863,  the  disturbance  of  trade  resulting  from  the 
war,  nearly  destroyed  Mr.  Munson's  enterprise.  Subsequently  he  was  enabled  to 
revive  his  manufactory  and  restore  it  to  a  prosperous  footing.  In  1866,  when  the 
business  was  established,  the  capital  of  the  concern  was  only  $1,000,  which  was 
increased  to  over  $10,000  in  1863,  when  the  dissolution  of  partnership  took  place. 
Recently  Mr.  Munson  has  invented  and  patented  an  improvement  on  all  the  other 
rods,  which  he  calls  the  "Diamond  Elliptic,,'  and  the  superiority  of  which,  fitted 
with  his  patent  tip,  he  is  ready  to  demonstrate.  Mr.  Munson's  manufactory  em- 
ploys seven  hands.  Value  of  products  last  year,  $18,000. 

LINSEED  OIL. 

This  interest  is  represented  by  the  extensive  and  flourishing  manufactory  of 
I.  P.  Evans  &  Co.,  located  on  south  Delaware  street,  and  established  in  1864. 

It  is  furnished  with  the  machinery  and  appliances  of  a  first  class  establisment, 
and  has  the  capacity  to  crush  eight  hundred  bushels  of  flax  seed  daily.  During 
half  of  the  year  about  fifty  hands  are  employed. 

The  value  of  the  products  of  this  manufactory,  last  year,  is  reported  at  $160,000. 
This  was  less  by  at  least  $75,000  than  the  business  done  in  the  previous  year,  by 
reason  of  a  short  flax  crop. 


The  lumber  manufacturing  interest  of  the  city  is  divisible  into  two  classes — 
the  saw  mills,  which  manufacture  hard  lumber  from  the  logs  direct ;  and  the  planing 


MANUFACTURES.  359 

mills,  which  take  the  undressed  soft  lumber  and  fashion  it  into  the  regular  forms  and 
styles  for  building  purposes,  into  doors,  sash,  blinds,  and  other  portions  of  the  wood- 
work of  structures. 

There  are  a  number  of  saw  mills  here  for  the  manufacture  of  lumber  from  the 
logs  brought  into  the  city  from  the  surrounding  neighborhood ;  but  as  logs  are  most 
profitably  sawed  in  the  near  vicinity  of  the  place  where  the  timber  grows,  or  where 
water  transportation  can  be  employed,  the  saw  mills  here  occupy  a  limited  field 
compared  with  the  lumber  trade  of  the  city.  Five  manufactories  of  this  descrip- 
tion are  reported,  employing  29  hands,  and  sawing  lumber  last  year  to  the  value  of 
$213,800. 

The  Planing  Mills,  working  in  imported  soft  lumber,  occupy  a  larger  field, 
there  being  a  number  of  extensive  establishments  of  this  kind  in  the  city.  The 
reported  product  of  our  planing  mills  last  year  was  $515,646.  Number  of  hands 
employed,  213. 

MARBLE   WORKERS. 

This  branch  of  manufactures,  or  rather  of  art,  is  represented  by  seven  firms. 
The  capacities  of  some  of  these  are  equal  to  the  highest  requirements  of  art  in  the 
fashioning  of  tombstones,  monuments,  etc.  There  are  employed  by  these  estab- 
lishments 47  workmen;  the  aggregate  value  of  their  products  last  year  was  $160,300 

PAPER. 

This  interest  is  represented  by  two  large  establishments — the  Indianapolis  Pa- 
per Mill  and  the  Caledonia  Paoer  Mill.  The  former,  devoted  to  the  manufacture 
of  printing  and  wrapping  paper,  was  started  in  1863  by  J.  McLene  and  John  Mc- 
Intyre,  Esqs.,  and  is  now  owned  by  Messrs.  H.  Saulsbury,  M.  E.  Vinton,  "W.  H. 
Talbott  and  J.  McLene,  under  the  style  of  H.  Saulsbury  &  Co. 

The  Caledonia  Paper  Mill,  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  wrapping  paper,  was 
established  in  1864  by  Messrs.  Gay  &  Braden.  It  is  now  owned  by  Messrs.  Field, 
Locke  &  Co. 

Both  of  the  above  undertakings  have  proven  profitable,  and  their  products  are 
in  ready  demand.  The  following  shows  the  resources,  extent,  and  value  of  the  pro- 
ducts of  these  two  establishments  during  the  past  year: 

Caledonia  Paper  Mill,  capital,  $40,000,  average  number  of  hands  employed  27; 
value  of  products,  $50,000.  H.  Saulsbury  &  Co.,  capital,  $50,000,  average  number 
of  hands  employed  55;  value  of  products,  $110,000. 

PIANOS.  ,     . 

The  Indianapolis  Piano  Manufacturing  Company,  of  which  W.  J.  H.  Kobin- 
son  is  manager  and  principal  stockholder,  established  in  1862,  is  now  the  only 
representative  of  this  branch  of  manufacturing  industry  in  this  city.  The  other 
ventures,  which  were  afterwards  discontinued,  were  by  J.  H.  Kappes  &  Co.,  George 
F.  Trayser  &  Co.,  and  C.  A.  Gerold  &  Co. 

The  Indianapolis  Piano  Manufactory,  an  extensive,  successful,  and  permanently 
established  institution,  is  located  on  the  corner  of  South  New  Jersey  and  Merrill 
streets,  having  been  removed  to  this  location  during  the  past  year  from  its  previ- 
ous site  on  East  Washington  street.  This  enterprise  has  had  rather  an  eventful  and 
chequered  history,  but  has  been  carried  safely  through  its  "dark  hours,"  and  is 
now  entirely  "out  of  the  wilderness." 


360  BOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

The  advantages  of  this  point,  by  nature,  for  such  an  undertaking  were  supe- 
rior from  the  first,  and  have  since  been  greatly  augmented  by  increased  shipping 
facilities.  The  best  of  lumber  for  the  manufacture  of  pianos  was  directly  at  hand, 
giving  this  enterprise  a  large  advantage  over  the  Eastern  manufactories,  whose 
distance  from  the  source  of  lumber  supply  greatly  enhances  the  cost  of  production. 
But  the  advantages  in  respect  of  materials  and  shipping  facilities  were  long  neu- 
tralized by  the  stubborn  impression  that  superior  pianos  could  only  emanate  from 
an  eastern  manufactory.  There  was  a  magic  in  the  familiar  names  of  eastern 
pianos  that  a  home  enterprise  had  not,  and  which  it  has  not  been  easy  to  dispel. 

The  conductors  of  this  manufactory  have  resolutely  persisted  in  their  under- 
taking; have  paid  liberally  for  the  best  skilled  labor  attainable;  have  been  sedu- 
lous to  make  their  pianos  speak  their  own  recommendation;  and  at  length  have 
the  satisfaction  to  know  that  a  great  many  people  are  no  longer  skeptical  as  to  the 
ability  of  a  home  establishment  to  make  a  good  instrument.  This  establishment 
is  thoroughly  supplied  with  approved  machinery  and  the  requisite  appliances  and 
facilities  for  the  manufacture  of  pianos.  Nothing  essential  to  the  production  of  a 
superior  instrument — one  requiring  so  much  of  nicety  in  construction — seems  to 
be  neglected  here.  Great  care  is  taken  that  the  wood  shall  be  thoroughly  seasoned, 
and  that  the  several  parts  of  the  instrument  shall  be  scientifically  and  durably 
joined  together.  While  due  attention  is  given  to  finish,  and  ornamentation — to  the 
appearance  of  the  instruments — the  more  important  consideration  of  music-pro- 
ducing quality  and  capacities  is  not  neglected. 

For  the  reasons  stated,  the  Indianapolis  Piano  Manufacturing  Company  are  quite 
justified  in  their  pretensions  of  ability  to  furnish  to  western  patrons  pianos  equal 
in  quality  to  those  of  eastern  manufacturers,  and  at  less  cost.  The  freight  on  a 
piano  from  the  East  to  this  section  is  no  slight  addition  to  its  cost;  for  which  rea- 
son, chiefly,  we  are  assured  that  as  much  as  §75.00  can  be  saved  by  purchasing  a 
piano  made  at  this  establishment  instead  of  one  of  eastern  manufacture. 

The  capital  of  the  concern  is  $75,000;  number  of  workmen  employed,  thirty- 
five;  value  of  products  last  year,  $120,600.  The  recent  ratio  of  increase  indicates 
a  business  of  §250,000  to  §275,000  during  the  present  year;  and  the  number  of 
workmen  will  be  increased  to  about  forty-five. 


There  are  several  establishments  devoted  to  this  branch  of  production  in  this 
city.  The  principal  manufactory  of  this  kind  is  that  of  R.  A.  Durbon  &  Co.,  on 
South  Meridian  street.  This  establishment  is  devoted  exclusively  to  the  manufac- 
ture of  the  several  parts  of  a  patent  pump  owned  by  Mr.  Durbon,  and  having  a 
national  reputation  for  its  superior  excellence.  Its  prominent  points  of  superiority 
are:  durability,  neatness,  ease  with  which  it  works,  however  deep  the  well;  immu- 
nity from  freezing  in  the  coldest  weather,  and  comparative  cheapness.  As  before 
stated,  the  demand  for  this  pump  extends  all  over  the  country. 

SEWING   MACHINES. 

The  first,  and  as  yet  the  only,  Sewing  Machine  company  to  take  the  benefit  of 
the  superior  advantages  of  this  eity  for  locating  a  manufactory  here,  is  the  Wheeler 
&  Wilson  Company.     Their  manufactory,  a  branch  of  the  principal  manufactory 
at  Bridgeport,   Connecticut,   is  located  in  the  north-eastern  suburb  of  the  city 
half  a  mile  from  the  corporation  line.     It  was  completed  in  March  of  last  year 


MANUFACTURES. 

and  occupies  a  site  six  acres  in  extent,  of  which  the  building  covers  about  two 
acres.  The  cost  of  the  site  and  improvements  has  been  about  $50,000.  A  pro- 
jected enlargement  of  these  buildings,  to  be  completed  during  the  present  year,  will 
cost  about  $30,000  more.  The  number  of  workmen  now  employed  is  seventy-five; 
which  number  will  be  increased,  when  the  proposed  enlargement  shall  have  been 
completed,  to  two  hundred.  The  present  scope  of  the  manufactory  is  the  sawing 
and  cutting  of  the  wood  work  of  the  machines,  which  is  then  shipped  to  the  prin- 
cipal manufactory  at  Bridgeport,  Connecticut,  for  the  finishing  operations,  and  to 
be  united  with  the  other  parts  of  the  machine.  After  the  enlargement  of  the 
manufactory,  before  mentioned,  all  the  cabinet  work  of  the  machines  will  be  fash- 
ioned and  finished  here,  and  then  shipped  to  the  principal  manufactory.  The  an- 
nual value  of  the  products  of  the  enlarge!  manufactory  will  be  about  $500,000. 

That  this  is  the  best  point  in  the  West  for  a  cabinet  manufactory  is  corroborated 
by  the  prosperity  of  this  enterprise.  Easy  access  is  afforded  to  all  the  best  walnut 
and  poplar  lumber  regions  of  the  State,  and  the  facilities  are  equally  as  good  for 
shipment  of  the  manufactured  products. 

SODA   AND   SELTZER   WATER,    ETC. 

The  census  returns  give  three  establishments  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
soda  water,  seltzer  water,  etc.,  employing  an  aggregate  of  twenty-two  hands.  The 
value  of  their  products  last  year  is  reported  at  $35,000. 

RECTIFICATION   OF   DISTILLED   SPIRITS. 

Tnere  are  no  distilleries  here  (but  one  is  course  of  erection  three  miles  west  of 
the  city),  and  comparatively  few  rectifyers.  There  are  three  rectifying  houses: 
Hahn  &  Bals,  Thomas  F.  Ryan,  and  D.  Martin.  The  capital  employed  by  these  is 
reported  at  $65,000;  the  number  of  hands,  at  twelve;  and  the  value  of  their  pro- 
ducts for  the  past  year,  at  $116,000. 

STARCH. 

This  interest  is  represented  here  by  one  extensive  establishment:  the  Union 
Starch  Manufactory.  This  enterprise  was  inaugurated  early  in  1867,  by  an  associa- 
tion composed  of  W.  F.  Kiel,  Charles  F.  Wishemeyer,  Edward  Mueller,  and  Henry 
Burke,  with  a  cash  capital  of  $75,000.  An  appropriate  site  was  secured  at  the  east 
end  of  New  York  street;  and  by  the  end  of  the  year  1867,  the  buildings  had  been 
erected  and  fitted  with  suitable  machinery,  and  the  manufacture  of  starch  begun. 
The  enterprise  thus  instituted  had  a  prosperous  existence  until  October  1868, 
when  the  establishment  was  destroyed  by  fire,  involving  a  loss  of  $15,000  in  excess 
Of  insurance.  The  company  at  once  rebuilt  and  restocked  the  works,  and  the  busi- 
ness was  resumed  within  a  few  weeks  after  the  fire.  Prosperity  has  attended  the 
undertaking. 

The  products  of  this  manufactory  have  found  a  ready  demand,  and  by  this  ex- 
periment it  has  been  clearly  shown  that  a  superior  quality  of  starch  can  be  profit- 
ably made  here,  at  prices  as  low  as  any  competition  can  afford. 

TARNISH. 

The  Capital  City  Varnish  Works,  corner  of  Mississippi  and  Kentucky  Av- 
enue, were  established  in  1866,  by  H.  B.  Hears.  The  firm  name  is  now  Mears  & 


HOLLOWATT8  INDIAN  APOL^. 

Lilly  (H.  B.  Mears  and  J.  O.  D.  Lilly).  The  range  of  production  covers  every- 
thing in  the  way  of  varnishes,  Japans,  stains,  &c.  The  establishment  has  been  a 
success  from  the  first;  and  though  there  are  about  twenty-two  similar  manufacto- 
ries in  the  West,  the  products  of  this  are  in  such  good  repute  that  they  are  sold 
throughout  a  large  area  of  territory — from  Eastern  Ohio  to  the  remote  far  West, 
and  from  Michigan  to  New  Orleans.  They  are  sold  largely  in  Cincinnati,  where 
there  are  four  similar  manufactories,  and  in  Chicago,  where  are  three  or  four.  The 
capital  of  the  concern  is  about  $40,000;  number  of  hands  employed,  five;  value 
of  products  last  year,  $52,000.  Mr.  Mears  recently  made  an  extensive  tour  of  ob- 
servation of  the  more  celebrated  English  varnish  manufactories,  for  the  sake  of  im- 
proving the  products  of  bis  own. 

Another  varnish  factory,  on  a  smaller  scale,  has  recently  been  established  by 
Ebner,  Kramer  &  Aldag. 

STONE. 

The  business  of  dressing  limestone,  of  which  unlimited  quantities,  of  the  most 
desirable  qualities,  are  cheaply  and  readily  obtained  from  surrounding  quarries,  for 
building,  masonry,  and  like  purposes,  is  represented  by  a  number  of  establishments 
in  this  city.  The  principal  establishments  of  this  kind  are  those  of  Scott,  Nichol- 
son &  Co.,  S.  Goddard  &  Sons,  Smith,  Ittenbach  &  Co.,  and  F.  L.  Farman. 

Artificial  Stone, — Two  manufactories  of  patent  artificial  stone  have  recently 
been  inaugurated  in  this  city  by  J.  T.  Macauley  &  Co.  and  H.  B.  &  D.  R.  Pershing. 

The  first  named  establishment  is  devoted  to  the  production  of  the  Lefler  patent 
cement  stone,  which  is  moulded  into  any  desired  shape,  and  is  used  for  all  sorts  of 
building  purposes,  plain  or  ornamental.  It  has  the  color  of  finely  dressed  granite, 
can  be  made  at  somewhat  less  than  half  the  cost  of  the  dressed  granite,  and,  it  is 
claimed,  will  resist  all  the  effects  of  time  and  of  the  elements. 

Pershing  &  Pershing  manufacture  the  Freer  patent  artificial  stone,  for  which 
like  virtues  and  cheapness  to  those  ascribed  to  the  Lefler  patent  are  claimed.  It  is 
of  the  color  of  sand  stone.  These  interests,  natural  and  artificial  stone,  represent 
a  capital  of  about  $75,000,  and  employ  about  ninety-five  hands.  Reported  value 
of  products  for  the  past  year,  $150,000. 

TRUNKS. 

The  manufacture  of  Trunks  is  yet  a  young  interest ;  but  the  obvious  advantages 
of  this  site  for  the  cheap  production  of  this  class  of  articles,  cannot  fail  to  attract 
the  investment  of  capital  on  a  much  larger  scale  than  has  yet  been  the  case.  There 
are  six  establishments  of  this  kind,  giving  employment  to  about  thirty  hands,  and 
producing  last  year  about  $50,000  worth  of  trunks. 

WHITE   LEAD   AND   COLOBS. 

The  fact  that  there  was  no  manufactory  of  paints  in  the  State,  the  facilities  for 
profitably  making  them  here,  and  the  extensive  market  that  could  be  more  readily 
and  cheaply  supplied  from  this  point  than  from  any  other,  led  Messrs.  T.  B.  McCarty 
and  Horace  Scott,  less  than  two  years  ago,  to  establish  the  Indianapolis  Paint  Works. 
There  was  no  risk  in  the  undertaking;  the  "opening"  for  such  an  investment  was 
particularly  apparent;  and  the  wonder  is  that  it  did  not  sooner  attract  the  invest- 
ment of  capital,  and  that  it  has  not  been  more  fully  occupied. 

The  manufactory  was  equipped  in  a  first  class  manner,  the  best  quality  of  skill- 


MANUFACTURES.  363 

ed  labor  has  been  employed,  and  almost  from  the  first  the  establishment  has  been 
unable  to  supply  the  demand  for  its  products.  The  white  lead  and  colors  ground 
and  prepared  here  are  in  request  over  a  wide  area  of  country,  alike  because  of 
their  merits  and  the  favorable  prices  at  which  they  can  be  sold  and  shipped.  Num- 
ber of  hands  employed,  twelve;  value  of  products  last  year,  $90,000.  The  exten- 
sive trade  which  could  be  most  cheaply  and  readily  reached  from  this  point  invites 
additional  and  larger  investments  here  in  this  branch  of  manufactures. 

THE  WOODBTJKN   "8ARVEN  WHEEL11    FACTORY. 

This  manufactory  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  of  the  kind  in  the  country.  It 
is  located  on  South  Illinois  street,  one  square  south  of  Union  Depot,  and  is  the  old- 
est manufactory  in  the  city.  It  was  started  in  1847  by  C.  H.  Crawford  &  J.  R.  Os- 
good,  for  making  lasts  and  other  shoemakers'  implements,  and  was  then  located 
near  the  site  of  the  Union  Depot.  Six  years  later  Mr.  Crawford  retired  from  the 
establishment,  leaving  Mr.  Osgood  as  the  only  proprietor.  The  latter  shortly  after- 
ward added  the  manufacture  of  staves  and  flour  barrels  to  his  other  business.  Find- 
ing his  building  too  small,  he  erected  on  the  present  site  of  his  establishment  a 
three-story  brick  building,  twenty-five  by  one  hundred  feet.  This  location,  now  in 
the  heart  of  the  city,  was  then  in  the  open  country,  and  it  was  deemed  a  hazardous 
investment  in  that  day  to  locate  so  considerable  an  establishment  so  far  from 
the  business  portion  of  the  city.  The  manufacture  of  wooden  hubs  was  added  in 
1866,  when  Mr.  L.  M.  Bugby  was  admitted  into  the  firm.  Mr.  S.  H.  Smith  was 
admitted  as  an  equal  partner  in  1866,  and  the  manufacture  of  wagon  and  carriage 
materials  was  added.  Thus  began  what  has  grown  to  be  a  very  extensive  business) 
not  only  in  this  city  but  in  the  State  at  large,  employing  more  than  $1,000,000  cap- 
ital. In  February,  1864,  their  establishment  was  destroyed  by  fire,  involving  a 
loss  of  $20,000.  "Within  ninety  days  the  manufactory  had  been  rebuilt  on  a  larger 
scale  than  before.  In  the  year  1865  Messrs.  Woodburn  &  Scott,  of  St.  Louis,  who 
had  been  doing  a  large  business  in  the  manufacture  of  wheels  of  various  kinds,  and 
who,  in  connection  with  a  New  Haven  firm,  had  the  exclusive  right  to  manufacture 
the  celebrated  "Sarven  Patent  Wheel,"  and  had  expended  large  sums  in  its  intro- 
duction, disposed  of  all  their  patents  and  business  to  Messrs.  Osgood  &  Smith.  In 
order  to  obtain  the  requisite  capital  to  conduct  this  extension  of  their  business. 
Messrs.  Osgood  &  Smith  disposed  of  a  one-third  interest  to  Messrs.  Nelson  &  Haynes> 
a  wealthy  house  in  Alton,  111.,  who  opened  an  establishment  in  St.  Louis  for  the 
manufacture  of  wagon  materials.  The  St.  Louis  house  was  known  as  Haynes,  Smith, 
$  Co.;  the  Indianapolis  firm,  as  Osgood,  Smith  <^  Co.  Subsequently  Mr.  Woodburn 
purchased  the  interest  of  Messrs.  Nelson  &  Haynes,  and  the  St.  Louis  house  then 
took  the  firm  name  of  Woodburn,  Smith  $•  Go. 

At  different  times  since,  J.  S.  Yost,  V.  Rothrock  and  J.  F.  Pratt  have  been  pro- 
moted from  employes  to  members  of  the  Indianapolis  house.  In  1869  the  estab- 
lishment obtained  a  controlling  interest  in  the  manufactory  at  Massac,  111.,  for 
making  carriage  materials,  a  step  that  was  taken  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the 
St.  Louis  house  with  materials. 

In  the  same  year  they  bought  a  large  tract  of  timbered  land  in  Orange  county* 
Indiana,  and  erected  a  saw  mill  there  to  supply  the  Indianapolis  manufactory  with 
lumber. 

In  1870,  the  concern  was  transformed  into  a  joint  stock  company,  under  the 
name  of  the  Woodburn  "Sarven  Wheel"  Company,  with  a  capital  of  $250,000,  mak- 


364  HOLLOW  AT  B  INDIANAPOLIS. 

ing  no  change  in  the  proprietorship,  other  than  before  stated.  Since  then  the  man- 
ufacture of  the  Sarven  Patent  Wheel  has  been  a  specialty. 

A  busy  and  useful  life  was  terminated  by  the  death  of  the  senior  proprietor, 
Mr.  J.  R.  Osgood,  in  June,  1871.  The  present  officers  of  the  Company  are:  Jacob 
Woodburn,  President;  S.  F.  Smith,  Vice  President  and  Treasurer;  J.  S.  Yost, 
Assistant  Secretary  and  Treasurer ;  J.  F.  Pratt,  Secretary ;  V.  Rothrock,  Superin- 
tendent. 

The  Woodburn  "Sarven  Wheel"  Company  are  now  making  wheels  of  all 
kinds,  from  those  for  the  lightest  buggy,  weighing  no  more  than  eighty  pounds,  to 
those  for  heavy  omnibuses  and  wagons;  and  now  propose  to  apply  the  principle  of 
their  patent  to  railway  cars.  Their  wheels  find  their  way  in  large  quantiles  to  all 
parts  of  the  United  States.  In  addition  to  wheels,  they  manufacture  carriage  ma- 
terials of  all  descriptions,  plow  handles,  etc. 

The  success  of  this  establishment  is  due  as  well  to  the  advantages  of  its  loca- 
tion as  to  the  efficiency  of  its  management.  Indiana  occupies  a  peculiar  position 
not  only  to  this  country,  both  East  and  West,  but  to  other  parts  of  the  world,  in  its 
ability  to  supply  to  so  great  an  extent  such  splendid  timber  for  carriages,  wagons 
and  agricultural  machinery.  The  supply  in  the  Eastern  States  of  timber  for  fine 
carriage  work  is  being  rapidly  exhausted,  so  that  the  best  manufacturers  are  now 
getting  their  choice  timber  from  the  West.  It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  there  is 
no  carriage  and  wagon  timber  to  be  found  in  all  the  vast  extent  of  country  between 
the  Mississippi  river  and  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  and  that  the  supply  for  this  im- 
mense prairie  country,  so  rapidly  filling  up  and  developing,  must  come  from  a 
small  belt  of  country  of  which  Indiana  is  the  center.  This  fact,  in  its  bearings 
upon  the  future,  is  now  engaging  the  serious  attention  of  manufacturers. 

We  have  dwelt  upon  this  enterprise  at  some  length  because  of  its  being  so  tri- 
umphant an  illustration  of  the  great  advantages  of  this  point  for  manufacturing 
purposes;  and  because  Mr.  Woodburn  may  be  considered  the  pioneer  of  this  busi- 
ness in  the  West.  In  1848,  he  and  a  fellow  workman  left  Newark,  New  Jersey 
to  seek  their  fortunes  in  the  West,  each  bringing  with  him  a  spoke  lathe.  One 
settled  in  Cincinnati  and  the  other  in  St.  Louis.  Commencing  business  without  means 
they  worked  their  way  up.  They  made  the  first  spokes  ever  manufactured  by  ma- 
chinery west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  and  thus  started  the  immense  business 
now  being  done  throughout  the  entire  west;  and  the  substitution  of  machinery, 
thus  introduced,  for  hard  labor,  has  diminished  the  cost  of  this  class  of  products 
from  fifty  to  seventy-five  per  cent.  The  capital  stock  of  the  concern  is  $350,000; 
number  of  hands  employed,  one  hundred  and  eighty;  value  of  products  last  yearf 
$250,000. 

WOOLEN   MANUFACTURES. 

This  interest  in  Indianapolis  has  shared  the  general  prosperity  of  its  manufac- 
turing interests  due  to  advantages  of  location,  superior  shipping  facilities,  and  so 
forth.  In  addition  to  these  it  has  had  a  special  cause  of  prosperity  in  the  great 
improvement  of  recent  years  of  the  wool  product  of  this  region ;  so  that  the  woolen 
fabrics  manufactured  here  have  acquired  a  high  repute  throughout  the  country 
This  increase  in  the  prosperity,  capacities  and  resources  of  our  mills,  has  created  an 
increased  demand  for  wool,  and  thus  built  up  an  extensive  wool  market  here. 

The  present  extensive  woolen  mill  of  Merritt  &  Coughlen,  at  the  west  end  f 
Washington  street,  was  established  by  them  in  1856.  Its  growth  is  a  type  of  the 


MANUFACTURES. 

growth  of  the  city.  From  an  affair  of  small  consequence,  it  has  became  an  estab- 
lishment of  the  first  class.  It  has  been  enlarged  from  time  to  time,  and  now  has 
three  sets  of  machinery,  of  the  largest  size,  and  of  the  most  recent  and  approved 
patterns.  Forty  hands,  on  the  average,  are  employed.  The  products  are  cassi- 
meres,  flannels,  jeans,  blankets  etc.  These  rank  with  the  best  products  of  the  prin- 
cipal woolen  mills  of  the  country.  The  present  investment  of  capital  is  about 
$100,000;  value  of  products  last  year,  $200,000. 

The  ffoosier  Woolen  Factory,  located  near  that  of  Merritt  &  Coughlen,  estab- 
lished in  1847  by  Messrs.  C.  E.  &  G.  W.  Geisendorff,  is  now  owned  and  operated 
by  C.  E,  Geisendorff  &  Co.  Successive  improvements  and  enlargements  have  made 
their  establishment  extensive  and  complete.  Its  range  of  production  embraces  the 
various  descriptions  of  woolen  fabrics,  several  of  which  have  obtained  great  celeb- 
rity for  their  peculiar  points  of  excellency.  The  investment  of  capital  is  about  $125r- 
000;  number  of  hands  employed,  fifty;  value  of  products  last  year,  $125,000. 


366 


BOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 


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368  SOLLOWA  rs  INDIA NA POLIS. 

TRADE. 

AGRICULTURAL   IMPLEMENTS. 

This  branch  of  merchandise  is  represented  by  sixteen  dealers  and  manufac- 
turers, not  including  manufacturing  establishments  where  parts  only  of  certain 
agricultural  implements  are  made. 

As  the  commercial  center  of  an  extensive  agricultural  region,  this  city  does  a 
large  business  in  agricultural  implements ;  which  is  rapidly  growing  in  propor- 
tion to  the  increasing  use  of  labor-saving  machines  by  agriculturists.  The  aggre- 
gate transactions  of  the  past  year  are  reported  at  $755,687.  Principal  dealers  are 
the  following:  W.  L.  Sherwood,  reapers,  mowers  and  threshers;  J.  George  Stilz, 
agricultural  implements  generally,  seeds,  etc.;  Carlos  Dickson  &  Co.,  woollen  fac- 
tor findings,  etc.,  etc.,  Case  &  Parker,  a  general  business  in  agricultural  imple- 
ments; A.  L.  Webb,  agricultural  implements,  seeds,  etc;  J.  Braden,  agricultural 
implements  generally;  H.  J.  Prier,  reapers,  mowers,  agricultural  implements  in 
general;  Houck,  Spencer  &  Co.,  agricultural  implements  generally;  R.  L.  Lukens, 
ditto. 

BOOKS   AND   STATIONEBY. 

Though  the  introduction  of  the  book  trade  of  the  city  dates  back  to  an  early 
period  in  the  history  of  the  latter,  it  is  but  a  few  years  since  it  attained  to  any 
considerable  magnitude.  The  first  house  that  made  any  pretensions  in  the  whole- 
sale way,  was  that  of  H.  F.  West  &  Co.,  located  on  the  site  of  the  present  exten- 
sive house  of  Bowen,  Stewart  &  Co. 

In  the  last  year  of  the  firm  of  West  &  Co. — 1853 — their  aggregate  sales  reached 
$30,000.  In  1854,  as  before  stated,  the  establishment  of  West  &  Co.  passed  into 
the  possession  of  Stewart  &  Bowen  in  September.  The  old  and  well-known  house 
of  Merrill  &  Co.  was  founded  by  Samuel  Merrill  in  1850 ;  that  of  Todd  &  Carmi- 
chael  in  1863.  As  late  as  1860  the  wholesale  trade  had  grown  but  little;  its  aggre- 
gate for  that  year  not  exceeding  $45,000  to  $50,000.  Its  growth  since  that  time 
has  been  large,  continuous  and  permnanet  in  its  character.  The  aggregate  of  the 
transactions  during  the  past  year  was  $556,000;  an  increase  of  about  15  per  cent, 
over  the  previous  year.  The  increase  in  the  bulk  of  the  business  done  was  consid- 
erably more  by  reason  of  the  decline  in  prices.  The  shrinkage  in  values — which 
set  in  after  the  close  of  the  war,  and  continued  during  the  past  year — has  applied 
to  all  descriptions  of  paper  stationery,  and  so  forth ;  and  to  imported  articles,  in 
proportion  to  the  steady  decline  in  the  gold  premium.  As  to  books,  etc.,  where  the 
chief  value  is  not  imparted  by  the  materials  used,  but  grows  out  of  the  cost  of  con- 
tents and  of  the  skilled  labor  requisite  to  their  production,  the  decline  in  prices, 
has  been  less,  partly  by  reason  of  the  loss,  not  yet  repaired,  in  skilled  labor  on 
account  of  the  war;  and  partly  through  the  influence  of  trades'  unions  and  other 
combinations  to  keep  up  or  advance  the  cost  of  the  manufacturing.  Nevertheless 
the  business  of  the  year  has,  upon  the  whole,  been  prosperous.  The  shrinkage  in 
values  has  been  so  gradual  that,  with  prudent  management,  financial  "breakers" 
have  been  avoided,  though  profits  have  necessarily  been  smaller.  Collections  here 
averaged  well  during  the  year;  but  are  more  difficult  in  the  beginning  of  the  pres- 
ent season. 

Bowen,  Stewart  &  Co.,  Nos.  16  and  18  West  Washington  street;  Merrill  & 
Co.,  Blackford:s  block;  Todd,  Carmichael  and  Williams,  Glenns'  block;  and  J.  H. 
V.  Smith,  Yohn's  block,  are  the  principal  houses  in  this  branch  of  trade. 


TRADE.  369 

The  fields  occupied  by  these  establishments  ere  not  alike.  That  of  Bowen, 
Stewart  &  Co.  covers  the  whole  extent  of  the  general  book  and  stationery  business; 
but  current  publications  and  educational  text  books  are  made  special  features. 
That  of  Merrill  &  Co.  embraces  the  general  book  and  stationery  trade ;  but  espe- 
cial prominence  is  given  to  law  books,  etc.  Messrs.  Todd,  Carmichael  &  Williams 
give  especial  attention  to  works  of  a  religious  and  denominational  character,  and 
to  publications  designed  for  the  religious  and  general  education  of  the  young — 
school  and  Sunday-school  books,  etc.  Mr.  Smith  does  a  general  business ;  with 
educational  and  religious  works,  especially  Methodist  denominational  publications, 
as  a  specialty. 

BOOTS   AND   SHOES. 

The  present  large  jobbing  trade  in  this  branch  of  merchandise  is  almost 
entirely  the  growth  of  the  last  ten  years  The  first  exclusively  wholesale  house 
that  of  E.  C.  Mayhew  &  Co.  (E.  C.  Mayhew  and  James  M.  Ray),  was  established  in 
1855.  In  1860  the  wholesale  business  was  limited  to  two  houses:  E.  C.  Mayhew 
Ac  Co.,  and  V.  K.  Hendricks  &  Co.  The  aggregate  sales  at  wholesale  that  year  did 
not  exceed  $175,000.  As  late  as  the  year  1865  the  wholesale  trade  had  made  but 
little  headway.  Business  was  obtained  with  difficulty,  confined  within  a  limited 
area  of  territory,  and  embraced  the  least  desirable  class  of  patronage  within  that 
limited  area.  Since  then  the  improvement  has  been  remarkable.  The  field  of 
operations  has  been  greatly  extended  in  all  directions.  Within  these  extended 
limits  it  is  now  the  rule  of  retailers  to  purchase  their  stocks  here  instead  of  the 
exception,  as  was  formerly  the  case.  In  other  words,  a  large  and  desirable  trade 
comes  here  without  special  solicitation,  because  it  is  profitible  to  do  so ;  while  a 
few  years  ago  extraordinary  efforts  were  necessary  to  secure  a  small  and  inferior 
patronage.  The  great  growth  of  the  Boot  and  Shoe  business  is  shown  in  the  trans_ 
actions  of  the  past  year,  which  aggregate  $1,709,000.  The  jobbers  here  have  no 
difficulty  in  competing  with  any  of  their  rivals;  offering  at  least  equal,  frequently 
better,  inducements  as  to  styles  and  prices.  The  additional  claim  is  made  by  them, 
and  is  sustained,  that  they  surpass  competitors  in  the  respect  that  their  stocks  are- 
peculiarly  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  market  in  Indiana  and  Illinois. 

During  the  past  year  trade  has  been  active,  and  there  has  been  a  gradual  decline- 
in  prices.  The  estimated  increase  of  business  during  the  year  is  about  15  per  cent., 
attended  by  a  like  increase  in  the  aggregate  capital  invested.  For  the  greater  part, 
of  the  year  collections  were  moderately  well  kept  up;  but  during  the  winter  more 
difficulty  was  experienced.  On  the  "whole  the  year  has  been  a  prosperous  one,  and 
the  prospect  ahead  is  promising.  The  number  of  dealers  reported  is  twenty- four. 

The  principal  houses  are:  J.  C.  Burton,  Vinneige  &  Jones,  Mayhew.  Bran- 
ham  &  Co.;  Hendricks,  Edmunds  &  Co.,  Mayhew,  Warren  &  Co.,  Kingsbury  &  Co. — 
chiefly  located  on  South  Meridian  street. 

CARPETS,    WALL    PAPER,    ETC. 

The  carpet  trade,  unlike  most  other  branches  of  business,  has  few  exclusively.- 
wholesale  dealers  anywhere.  The  heaviest  dealers  therein,  in  New  York  and  other, 
large  cities,  do  a  retail  as  well  as  a  wholesale  business.  The  nature  of  the  article, 
and  of  the  demand  resultant  therefrom,  compels  dealers  to  fill  individual  orders  as 
well  a«  orders  in  bulk. 

Wholesale  operations,  of  noteworthy  account,  in  carpets,  may  be  said  to  have 
(24) 


370  HOLLOWAT8  INDIANAPOLIS. 

been  instituted  in  1866,  by  the  present  extensive  and  well-known  house  of  Hume, 
Adams  &  Co.  The  growth  of  the  business  here  has  been  sudden  and  rapid — in 
harmony  with  the  growth  and  progress  of  the  carpet-manufacturing  interest  in  this 
country. 

In  no  respect  have  American  skill  and  resources  been  shown  to  better  advan- 
tage, and  with  better  results,  than  in  the  manufacture  of  carpets — not  of  the 
cheaper  grades,  but  of  the  better  kinds.  In  the  manufactories  at  Philadelphia, 
Lowell,  Hartford,  Yonkers  and  other  points  are  produced  "  Axminster,"  "  Brus- 
sels" and  other  varieties  of  woolen  carpets,  that  are  equal  in  every  way — frequently 
superior  in  point  of  style — to  the  best  specimens  of  English  and  French  manufac- 
ture. The  progress  made  in  this  species  of  American  manufactures  has  been  very 
gratifying.  For  once  it  is  useless  to  buy  a  foreign  article  in  order  to  obtain  a  superior 
article.  One  effect  of  this  successful  competition  of  the  American  manufacturer 
has  been  to  greatly  stimulate  the  purchase  of  the  better  grades.  Mere  or  less  of 
fine  carpets  is  now  found  in  a  majority  of  dwellings. 

Prices  during  the  past  year  steadily  and  largely  declined — a  continuance  of 
the  shrinkage  in  values  that  began  after  the  close  of  the  war.  It  is  believed  that 
the  decline  has  reached  its  minimum.  The  present  prices,  at  which  the  market  is 
firm,  seem  to  be  as  low  as  the  articles  can  be  produced,  and  no  further  natural 
shrinkage  of  values  can  therefore  reasonably  be  expected. 

Prices  of  wall-paper  were  generally  steady  during  the  year. 

The  business  of  1870,  under  this  head,  was  one  of  great  prosperity.  The  esti- 
mated increase  was  33  per  cent,  over  that  of  the  previous  year.  By  reason  of  the 
•decline  in  prices,  profits  were  often  very  slender;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  collections 
were  very  good.  The  future  prospects  are  promising  in  a  high  degree.  The 
Stocks  kept  here,  in  respect  of  magnitude,  varieties,  styles,  qualities,  prices,  and  so 
forth,  are  quite  capable  ef  withstanding  competition;  and  the  ancient  practice  of 
going  somewhere  else  than  here,  when  a  particularly  elegant  pattern  might  be 
wanted,  or  in  expectation  of  getting  better  terms,  has  gone  out  of  date. 

The  aggregate  transactions  of  1870  are  reported  at  $510,000. 

Principal  houses  are :  Hume,  Adams  &  Co..  47  and  49  South  Meridian  street ; 
A.  Gall,  101  East  Washington  street;  W.  H.  Roll,  38  South  Illinois. 

CLOTHING. 

The  wholesale  clothing  trade  in  this  city  had  its  beginning  about  eight  years 
ago — the  pioneer  house  being  that  of  Dessar,  Bro.  &  Co.  The  growth  of  these 
eight  years  is  full  of  encouragement.  The  trade  that  has  been  built  up  covers  a 
wide  extent  of  territory,  within  which  the  Indianapolis  dealers  secure  their  full 
share  of  patronage.  The  business  of  the  past  year  shows  a  good  increase.  Prices 
during  the  year  were  steady  as  to  the  better  grades ;  medium  and  the  lower  grades 
declined  slightly  ;  French  cloths  advanced  on  account  of  the  war. 

The  sales  last  year  aggregated  $1,779,805. 

The  principal  wholesale  houses  are:  Dessar,  Bro.  &  Co.,  Hays,  Kosenthal  & 
'Co.,  Mossier  Bros,  (wholesale  and  retail). 

COAL. 

Of  the  peculiar  merits  and  adaptation  of  the  Indiana  coal  to  the  purposes  of 
manufacturing,  mention  is  made  in  the  observations  upon  manufacturing  on  another 
page.  The  receiptsof  Indiana  coal  in  this  city  have  increased  many  fold  during 


TRADE.  371 

the  past  few  years,  consequent  upon  the  better  development  of  the  coal  fields. 
The  traffic  in  anthracite  coal  is,  for  the  most  part,  the  creation  of  but  a  few  years 
past. 

The  receipts  of  Indiana  coal  in  Indianapolis  for  the  year  1870  aggregated  about 
eighty-eight  thousand  tons.  Of  this  about  thirty  thousand  tons  were  shipped  to 
other  points;  the  remainder  was  consumed  in  this  city  and  vicinity.  The  prime 
cost,  by  the  car-load,  including  freight,  delivered  in  this  city,  during  the  past  year, 
has  averaged  about  $6,50  per  ton.  The  present  price,  compared  with  that  of  one 
year  ago,  shows  a  decline  of  about  25  per  cent.  . 

The  receipts  of  Pittsburg  and  anthracite  coal  in  this  city  during  the  year  1870 
were  about  thirty-five  thousand  tons. 

The  average  price  of  Pittsburg  coal  during  the  past  year  has  been  about  $5.00 
per  ton  ;  and  the  price  was  quite  steady  during  that  period. 

The  present  price  of  anthracite  coal,  compared  with  that  of  a  year  ago,  in  this 
city,  shows  a  decline  of  about  $1.50  per  ton. 

The  coal  trade  of  this  city  during  the  past  year  may  be  stated  in  round  num- 
bers at  $550  ,000. 

The  current  year  will  bring  a  largely  increased  importation  of  Indiana  coal . 
a  ratio  of  increase  that  will  be  maintained  for  a  number  of  years. 

In  the  past  the  measure  of  this  importation  has  been  the  carrying  capacity  of 
but  one  railway — the  old  Tern  Haute  $  Indianapolis  line.  Recently  three  new 
railway  lines,  radiating  from  this  city,  have  been  opened  through  the  coal  fields,  and 
a  fourth  is  projected.  The  development  of  the  coal  resources  in  the  regions  pene- 
trated by  these  lines  will  rapidly  follow — will  go  on  increasing  for  many  years,  and 
the  amount  mined  and  shipped  to  and  through  this  city  will  multiply  in  propor- 
tion. 

CONFECTIONERY. 

The  wholesale  business  ia  confectionery  was  begun,  in  any  noteworthy  degree, 
t>y  Daggett  &  Co.  in  1856.  The  increase  of  this  business  in  the  succeeding  years 
has  been  commensurate  with  that  of  most  other  branches  of  commerce. 

The  products  of  our  confectionery  manufactories  are  noted  for  their  excep- 
tional freedom  from  unwholesome  impurities,  imparted  by  the  use  of  injurious 
chemicals ;  and  for  this  reason,  particularly,  command  a  ready  and  extended 
*ale.  Every  variety  of  confectionery  can  be  found  here,  as  well  as  excellent  qualities. 

The  past  year  was  one  of  great  prosperity  to  this  interest.  The  increase  in  the 
amount  of  business  was  about  30  per  cent.  During  the  early  part  of  the  year 
there  was  a  considerable  decline  in  values;  afterward  pricos  were  steady  to  the  end 
of  the  year.  Profits  were  generally  better  than  during  the  previous  year.  Col- 
lections were  fair  up  to  Christmas;  but  since  then  have  been  more  difficult. 

Principal  houses  are  those  of  Daggett  &  Co.,  26  South  Meridian  street;  Duke- 
mineer,  Scott  and  Johnson,  100  South  Meridian  street — both  of  whom  are  manu- 
facturers and  dealers. 

DRUGS. 

The  jobbing  trade  in  this  branch  of  commerce  has  a  greater  antiquity  than 
that  of  most  others  in  this  city ;  though,  as  in  the  case  of  all  others,  it  is  but  a  few 
years  since  it  attained  any  considerable  magnitude.  The  wholesale  transactions  of 
any  consequence  may  be  said  to  have  been  inaugurated  by  the  house  of  William 
Hannamaa  &  Co.,  in  1832.  The  next  considerable  venture  in  this  respect  was  by 


372  HOLLoWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

Craighead  &  Braden  (afterward  Craighead  &  Browning),  in  1842  and  1843.  The 
subcequent  increase  in  this  trade  is  one  of  the  best  illustrations  of  the  commer- 
cial growth  of  the  city;  which  can  now  show  some  of  the  most  extensive  and  pros- 
perous establishments  in  the  West. 

The- business  of  the  past  year  shows  an  increase  of  12  to  15  per  cent,  over  that 
of  the  previous  jear,  and  a  healthy  increase  of  the  capital  invested.  There  has 
in  some  exceptional  articles,  been  a  steady  shrinking  in  values  during  the  year. 
By  consequence,  profits  were  small ;  but  as  the  collections  were  good,  the  business 
of  the  year  was,  upon  the  whole  prosperous. 

The  destruction  of  the  extensive  perfumery  establishments  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Paris  by  the  German  army,  caused  an  advance  in  that  class  of  goods  in  the 
summer;  but  this  advance  has  not  been  sustained. 

The  transactions  of  last  year  foot  up $1,661,600. 

Principal  houses  are  those  of  Browning  &  Sloan,  7-  and  &  East  Washington 
street;  Stewart  &  Morgan,  140  East  Washington  street;  Kiefer  &  Vinton,  68 
South  Meridian;  Haskit  &  Morria,  14  West  Washington;  Patterson,  Moore  & 
Talbott,  123  South  Meridian  street. 

DBY   GOODS. 

Of  comparatively  recent  introduction  here,  the  wholesale  trade  ia  Dry  Goods  haa 
attained  to  a  leading  prominence  in  the  commerce  of  the  city.  Prior  to  1860  severa.1 
houses  in  the  wholesale  Dry  Goods  trade  had  been  established,  and  after  unprosper- 
ous  existences  of  greater  or  less  duration,  bad  disappeared  ;  so  that  in  that  year  the 
only  exclusively  wholesale  house  was  that  of  J.  A.  Crossland.  The  aggregate 
wholesale  transactions  of  1860  (both  of  dry  goods  and  notions)  did  not  exceed 
$200,000.  Within  the  past  five  or  six  years  this  business  has  had  an  extraordinary 
development  and  increase. 

The  transactions  of  the  past  year  aggregate  $4,542,000. 

A  very  large  area  of  territory,  extending  into  Michigan  and  Illinois,  and  occa- 
sionally much  further,  has  been  largely  supplied  by  this  market.  This  foothold 
has  been  gained  by  the  simple  superiorty  of  the  inducements  offered,  and  over  the 
old-time  prejudices  that  led  retailers  to  assume  that  the  advantages  offered  here 
must  necessarily  be  inferior. 

In  whatever  respect,  whether  as  to  variety,  styles,  qualities,  prices,  and  so  forth, 
dealers  here  can  look  with  great  composure  on  outside  competition.  The  business 
of  1870  was  generally  prosperous.  The  increase  in  the  money  value  of  the  trans- 
action was  fully  20  per  cent;  and  the  increase  in  the  bulk  of  goods  sold  was  con- 
siderably larger,  by  reason  of  the  shrinkage  in  values.  One  feature  of  the  busi- 
ness was  a  partial  interruption  of  the  supply  of  eastern  fabrics,  resulting  in  a  tran- 
sient advance  in  prices,  owing  to  the  suspension  of  many  manufactories  for  want  of 
water. 

One  effect  of  the  war  in  Europe  was  a  depression  of  prices,  particularly  of 
cotton  goods;  as  the  foreign  demand  for  cotton  was  very  light,  and  prices  declined 
here  in  proportion. 

The  demand  for  flannels  has  been  active,  stimulating  production  by  western 
mills.  The  products  of  these  mills  are  in  growing  favor  with  the  trade.  Woollen 
cloths  have  been  in  good  demand.  Western  mills  are  manufacturing  them  in 
larger  quantities  than  ever  before,  with  a  marked  improvement  in  quality  which 
is  surely  bringing  them  increased  favor.  Their  shawls,  especially,  are  unsurpassed. 
The  West  is  now  manufacturing  knit  goods,  shirts,  drawers,  hosiery,  and  all  these 


TRADE.  373 

meet  with  ready  sale.  There  has  been  a  steady  demand  for  cotton  fabrics  during 
the  year.  The  sales  of  dress  goods  show  a  very  large  increase.  In  prints  the 
market  has  been  steady,  and  demand  fair  throughout  the  year.  The  increase  of 
capital  during  the  year  was  about  30  per  cent.  Profits  were  fair;  but  collections 
•were  unsatisfactory  and  difficult. 

The  present  year  opened  with  an  improvement  on  last  year's  business;  but  it 
is  yet  t.)0  early  in  the  season  to  speak  more  particularly  of  the  current  year's 
trade. 

Principal  houses  a~e:  Murphy,  Johnson  &  Co.,  southeast  corner  of  Meridian 
and  Maryland  streets;  Byram,  Cornelius  &'C!o.,  104  South  Meridian  street;  Hib- 
ben,  Kennedy  &  Co.,  97  and  *J9  South  Meridian  street;  Pettis,  Dickson  &  Co., 
denns1  bloek;  N.  E.  Smiths  Co.,  26  and  28  West  Washington  street. 


The  growing  wealth  and  population  of  the  region  supplied  by  this  market,  have 
greatly  multiplied  the  demand  for  the  finer  descriptions  of  furniture  ;  and  this 
class  of  merchandise  is  largely  represented  in  this  city,  by  both  dealers  and  man- 
ufacturers. 

The  total  sales  of  the  past  year  aggregated  $749,000. 

This  has  now  become  an  important  supply  market  for  a  large  area  of  territory, 
embracing  not  only  this  State,  but  extending  into  Illinois,  Missouri,  Kansas  Ne- 
braska and  other  Northwestern  .States, 

The  business  of  the  past  year,  as  to  the  amount  of  furniture  sold,  exhibits  an 
increaseof  about  25  per  cent,  over  that  of  the  previous  year;  and  the  increase  of 
capital  was  about  the  eame.  The  greater  part  of  the  business  is  represented  by 
manufacturers;  for  so  great  are  the  facilities  in  this  respect  that  the  manufacturer 
of  furniture  here  can  make  a  fair  profit  at  prices  which  leave  a  very  slender  margin 
for  the  competing  dealer  who  purchases  his  stocks  here  or  elsewhere.  Prices  were 
steady  during  the  past  year,  profits  fair,  and  collections  well  kept  up. 

The  present  year  opens  with  every  a-surance  of  a  decided  improvement  on  last 
year's  business. 

The  principal  establishments  represeating  the  furniture  interest  are  those  of 
Spiegel,  Thorns  A  Co.,  Cabinet  Makers'  Union,  Burk,  Earnshaw  &  Co.,  Western 
Furniture  Company  Philip  Dohn,  Indianapolis  Chair  Company,  N.  S.  Baker  &  Co.. 
Of  these  the  last  two  are  dealers;  the  others  manufacturers  and  dealers;  and  they 
xepresent  among  them  every  description  of  furniture. 


By  reason  of  the  location  of  this  city,  in  an  essentially  agricultural  region 
tributary  to  it  by  nature,  and  made  more  securely  so  by  the  railways  that  radiate 
from  this  city  at  every^point,  our  grain  trade  is  very  large.  But  the  want  of  the 
"  Elevator  system  "  here  has  retarded  the  growth  of  the  Indianapolis  grain  trade; 
has  been,  and  still  is,  the  one  great  obstacle  hindering  the  city  of  Indian  apols  from 
rising  to  an  eminent  rank  among  the  grain  markets  of  the  country.  A  want  so 
serious  in  its  consequences,  and  so  readily  remedied,  will  hardly  be  much  longer 
neglected  by  the  grain  dealers  and  breadstuff  manufacturers  of  this  city. 

Wheat. — The  crops  of  1868  and  1869  were  very  heavy,  leaving  a  large  surplus 
in  ezcess  of  the  home  consumption.  The  foreign  demand  for  the  surplus  of  1868 
•was  but  limited,  and  for  that  of  1869  only  moderate.  Prices  ruled  so  low  in  1869 


374  BOLLOWAT'8  IND1ASAPOLI8. 

that  a  large  stock  was  carried  over  to  the  next  year  in  expectation  of  an  advance. 
The  crop  of  1870  was  less  than  its  predecessors  as  to  yield;  but  at  the  same  time 
grain  was  unusually  good.  Thus  when  the  crop  of  1870  was  ready  for  market,  the 
stock  of  wheat  in  the  United  States  was  far  larger  than  at  any  previous  date. 
Early  in  the  month  of  June,  1870,  prices  advanced  suddenly  and  considerably. 
There  was  a  continued  improvement  throughout  the  next  two  months;  the  quota- 
tions of  March  1st,  and  July  1st,  1870,  showing  a  difference  in  favor  of  the  latter 
date  of  about  25  cents  per  bushek  "This  advance  was  caused  in  the  first  place  by 
a  large  demand  from  Prance,  where  the  crop  had  proved  short  beyond  doubt,  and 
afterward  by  the  commencement  of  war  between  France  and  Prussia,  which,  it 
was  supposed,  would  lead  to  an  increased  demand  for  breadstuffs  from  Europe ; 
and  this  feeling  was  strengthened  by  the  rapid  advance  in  gold,  which  took  place 
in  July.  But  all  these  anticipations  proved  incorrect;  the  demand  for  breadstuff* 
did  not  increase  when  hostilities  began,  but  really  diminished  ;  and  the  overwhelm- 
ing successes  of  the  Prussians,  with  a  decline  in  gold,  flattened  the  market,  and 
caused  general  disappointment."  The  advance  was  soon  lost,  and  prices  receded 
lower  than  they  had  been  during  the  year;  reacted  again  on  the  conclusion  of 
peace  between  Germany  and  France,  and  during  the  past  spring  became  nearly  as 
high  as  at  any  period  in  the  past  two  years.  The  aggregate  purchases  of  wheat  in 
this  market,  for  local  consumption  and  shipment,  during  the  year  1870,  were 
about  two  millions,  five  hundred  thousand  bushels,  of  the  aggregate  value  of 
about  $2,550,000. 

The  following  will  show  the  price  of  prime  red  wheat  in  this  market  on  the 
days  named: 

January  3d,  1870 ~ $     95@1  00 

February  1st,  1870 1  00 

March  1st,  1870 1  30@1  3S 

\prillst,  1870 1  25@1  30 

May  1st,  1870 ~ 1  00 

June  1st,  1870 1  05 

July   1st,  1870 1  12 

August  1st,  1870 1  27 

September  1st,  1870 ...  1   10 

October  1st,  1870 ~ 1  06@1  0* 

November  1st,  1870 „ 1  05@1  07 

December  1st,  1870 1  05@1  08 

January  1st,  1871 1  05@1  10 

February  1st,  1871 ~ ~ 1  13@1  1& 

March  1st,  1871 .... 1  20@1  25 

April  1st,  1871 1   25@1  30 

May  1st,  1871 „ 1  26@l  2d 

June  2d,  1871 1  20 

July  28th,  1871 new  red,  1  Q5@l  10;  old  red,  1  25@1  30 

Corn. — The  crop  of  1869  was  very  deficient  both  in  quantity  and  quality,  and 
prices  were  correspondingly  high.  The  crop  of  1870  was  the  largest  ever  raised  in 
the  country,  and  of  excellent  quality;  and  prices  ruled  accordingly.  The  aggre- 
gate receipts  during  the  year  1870  were  about  one  million,  eight  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  bushels;  and  the  average  price  about  fifty  cents  per  bushel.  The  price- 
oil  the  31st  December,.  1869,  was  65  cents;  on  the  1st  August,  1870,  80  cents,  for 


•— -  TBADE.  375 

shelled;  on  the  1st,  January,  1871,  42@43;  on  the  1st  May,  1871,  47@48,   for 
shelled;  on  the  30th  June,  1871,  50@51,  for  shelled 

Oats. — The  crop  of  1869  was  good ;  that  of  1870  large,  but  inferior  in  quality- 
The  receipts  at  this  market  for  the  year  1870  are  estimated  at  six  hundred  thou- 
sand bushels.  The  average  price  for  the  year  1870  was  about  45  cents.  Quotations 
in  1871:  April  6th,  50@53;  May  4th,  50@,53;  June  1st,  48@50;  June  SOthi 
60@65;  July  28th,  new,  30@35;  old,  58@62. 

GROCERIES. 

The  beginning  of  the  jobbing  trade,  in  this  department  of  merchandise,  ante- 
dates that  of  any  other  in  this  city.  The  first  wholesale  grocery  house  was  estab- 
lished almost  seventeen  years  ago;  but,  as  in  all  other  branches,  it  is  but  a  few 
years  since  the  jobbing  trade  in  groceries  obtained  to  any  considerable  dimensions. 
In  I860  the  firms  engaged  in  this  trade  were:  Andrew  Wallace,  J.  W.  Holland, 
Mills,  Alford  &  Co.,  Wright,  Bates  &  Maguire,  M.  Fitzgibbon  &  Co.,  A.  &  H. 
Schnull.  At  this  time,  and  for  some  time  after,  the  patronage  of  Indianapolis 
jobbers  was  circumscribed  within  extremely  narrow  limiti  indeed;  and  even /the 
patronage  of  country  merchants  within  these  limits  was  exceptional  instead  of 
being  the  rule — the  better  class  of  custom  going  to  Cincinnati. 

Now  all  this  is  changed:  the  trade  has  extended  in  every  direction — as  far 
west  as  Central  Illinois;  south  to  the  Ohio  river,  and  beyond;  east  into  Ohio; 
and  north  to  an  equal  extent.  Furthermore,  the  trade  within  these  extended  limits, 
naturally  tributary  to  this  city,  comes  here.  This  is  now  the  rule,  not  an  exception, 
as  used  to  be  the  case. 

The  inducements  being  equal,  or  superior,  the  retailer  naturally  seeks  the 
most  convenient  supply  market.  The  Indianapolis  jobber  having  demonstrated 
his  ability,  by  reason  of  the  extraordinary  advantages  of  the  location  and  railway 
commuications  of  this  city,  to  compete  on  equal  terms,  in  respect  of  qualities  and 
prices,  with  opposition  from  the  eastern  cities,  the  retailer  within  reasonable  dis- 
tance of  this  city  has  more  reasons  for  purchasing  here  than  elsewhere. 

The  aggregate  wholesale  grocery  trade  of  Indianapolis  in  the  year  1860  did 
not  exceed  $400,000.  The  sales  in  1870  foot  up  $6,443,150.  This  comparison 
effectively  illustrates  the  great  improvement  that  has  been  made  in  ten  years. 

The  increase  during  the  past  year  was  quite  satisfactory — perhaps  15  per 
sent,  in  the  aggregate.  The  extension,  both  in  trade  and  capital  employed,  shows 
that  the  onward  march  still  continues,  and  the  prospect  is  promising  as  the  retro- 
spect, is  gratifying. 

The  shrinking  in  values  that  set  in  after  the  clo?e  of  the  war,  has  gradually 
continued  ever  since — not  so  violently  as  to  derange  business  or  produce  bank- 
ruptcy, but  in  a  healthy,  gradual  way,  enabling  jobbers  to  adapt  their  business  to 
the  tendency  of  values.  Profits  were  good,  collections  well  kept  up,  and  but  few 
losses  have  been  sustained.  Consequently  a  judicious  as  well  as  a  large  and  increas- 
ing trade  has  been,  and  is  now  being,  done. 

Briefly,  the  advantages  of  Indianapolis,  as  a  wholesale  trading  point,  as  to 
groceries,  may  be  stated  thus: 

It  has  a  superior  location,  by  reason  of  an  unequaled  system  of  railways,  radi- 
ating at  every  point,  and  penetrating  or  connecting  with  all  parts  of  the  State  and 
adjoining  States,  rendering  it  speedy  of  access,  and  facilitating  the  quick  and  cheap 


376  HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

delivery  of  goods.  The  same  superiority  of  location  enables  its  jobbers  to  take 
advantage  of  competition  in  freight  rates,  and  deliver  goods  to  their  patrons  OH 
better  terms  than  the  latter  could  obtain  elsewhere.  The  stocks  are  equal  to  any 
possible  demand  in  extent  and  variety. 

The  more  prominent  exclusively  wholesale  grocery  houses  in  this  city  are  : 
Crossland,  Hanna  &  Co.,  southwest  corner  of  Meridian  and  Maryland  streets;  Wiles, 
Bro.  &  Co.,  149  South  Meridian  street;  Alford,  Talbott  &  Co.,  123  South  Meridian 
street;  Severin,  Schnull  &  Co.,  55  and  57  South  Meridian  street;  Foster,  Wiggins 
&  Co.,  68  and  70  South  Delaware  street;  Andrew  Wallace,  52  and  54  South  Dela- 
ware street. 

HATS   AND   FUR   GOODS. 

Prior  to  the  year  1863  there  was  no  exclusively  wholesale  house  of  this  descrip- 
tion in  the  city.  Early  in  that  year  J.  M.  Talbott  &  Co.,  and  Donaldson  &  Carr 
opened  wholesale  establishments.  Since  then  the  growth  of  the  business  has  been 
very  rapid — covering  much  the  same  extent  of  territory  as  other  departments  of  the 
wholesale  business  of  the  city.  Of  the  great  inducements  offered  here  the  best 
proof  is  found  in  the  large  patronage  that  has  been  secured  ;  for  trade,  being  selfish, 
bestows  its  favors  where  the  inducements  are  greatest. 

The  business  done  during  the  past  year  shows  a  considerable  increase  in  bulk; 
but  not  in  the  pecuniary  aggregate  realized,  owing  to  the  decline  in  values.  The 
estimated  increase  of  capital  employed  during  the  year  is  15  to  20  per  cent. 

The  principal  firms  are:  Donaldsn  &  Stout,  Ryan  &  Talbott,  Lelewer  &  Bro., 
(fur  goods  exclusively)  ;  Isaac  Davis  &  Co.,  (wholesale  and  retail). 

IRON   AND   HARDWARE. 

The  first  exclusively  wholesale  iron  house  in  this  city — that  of  Burt,  Metcalfe 
&  Over,  was  established  no  longer  ago  than  1865.  For  several  years  prior  to  that 
date,  the  establishments  of  W.  J.  Holliday  &  Co.,  and  of  Pomeroy,  Fry  &  Co.,  had 
been  doing  a  mixed  wholesale  and  retail  business  in  this  line  of  merchandise.  The 
trade  has  had  an  extraordinary  increase  in  the  past  few  years,  and  has  permanently 
occupied  a  large  area  of  territory. 

During  the  past  year  the  estimated  increase  has  been  33J  per  cent.;  but  owing 
to  the  considerable  and  continuous  decline  in  prices,  profits  were  very  small.  The 
average  decline  in  prices  during  the  year  was  about  16f  per  cent.  The  decline  in 
the  gold  premium  facilitated  British  competition  and  reduced  profits  to  a  narrow 
margin.  The  addition  during  the  year  to  the  aggregate  capital  invested  is  esti- 
mated at  15  per  cent..  Collections  were  reasonably  good.  The  present  season 
has  opened  out  with  good  prospects  of  a  large  increase  over  last  year's  business- 

The  principal  establishments  are  those  of  Maxwell,  Fry  &  Thurston,  34  South 
Meridian  street;  E.  Over  &  Co.,  82  and  84  South  Meridian  street;  W.  J.  Holliday 
b  Co.,  59  South  Meridian  street. 

In  hardware,  the  wholesale  trade  was  inaugurated  in  1856,  by  J.  H.  Vajen,  who 
had  opened  a  retail  establishment  five  years  before.  As  late  as  1861  Mr.  Vajen 
was  still  the  only  representative  of  the  wholesale  trade  in  hardware,  and  his  sales 
during  the  year  were  about  $75,000.  The  field  has  been  liberally  occupied  since, 
and  the  business  has  grown  to  be  an  extensive  one. 

During  the  past  two  years  the  shrinkage  in  values  has  been  so  constant  and 
•onsiderable  that  profits  have  been  greatly  curtailed.  This  shrinkage  in  values 


TRADE. 

appears  to  have  reached  its  lowest  point.     Prices  are  once  more  on  the  advance 
and  the  out'ook  is  more  encouraging  than  for  several  years  past. 

Leading  bouses  are  those  of  Anderson,  Bullock  &  Schofield,  62  South  Meridian 
street;  Kirnball,  Aikman  &  Co,  110  South  Meridian  street;  Fugate  &  Hildebrand> 
21  West  Washington  street;  Layman,  Carey  &  Co.;  64  East  Washington  street. 

The  aggregate  transactions  in  iron  and  hardware  during  the  past  year  are  esti- 
mated at  $3,500,000. 

JEWELRY,   WATCHES,    &C. 

The  trade  in  the  various  articles  usually  comprehended  in  the  term  "Jewelry," 
has  grown  to  be  a  very  extensive  branch  of  the  commerce  of  the  city.  The  first 
considerable  venture  in  this  line  was  that  of  E  J.  Baldwin  &  Co.,  (E.  J.  Baldwin 
and  J.  McLene),  in  1851. 

The  present  well-known  house  of  W.  P.  Bingham  &  Co.  was  established  in 
1859 ;  and  it  was  about  this  time  that  wholesale  operations  of  any  considerable 
extent  were  begun.  Since  then  the  trade  has  grown  rapidly  and  extended  in  all 
directions.  Stocks  embracing  every  conceivable  description  of  article  in  the  nom- 
enclature of  watches,  jewelry,  precious  stones,  gold  and  silver  ware,  fine  cutlery, 
clocks,  and  so  forth,  are  now  maintained  here;  affording  the  amplest  and  best 
inducements  to  purchasers.  The  business  of  the  past  year,  as  to  the  amount, 
shows  an  increase  of  perhaps  25  per  cent,  over  the  previous  year.  Imported  arti- 
cles advanced,  on  account  of  the  war,  about  10  per  cent.;  but  now  that  peace  has 
returned,  the  prices  are  returning  to  their  former  standard. 

On  gold  and  silver  articles  of  domestic  manufacture  there  was  a  small  decline 
during  the  year;  also  on  solid  and  plated  silver  ware.  The  profits  were  small  con- 
sidering the  amount  of  business  done.  Collections  were  rather  difficult;  and  in 
this  respect  the  present  year  does  not  start  out  auspiciously.  The  aggregate  value 
of  transactions  in  this  line  last  year  was  $195,000. 

The  principal  houses  are:  W.  P.  Bingham  &  Co.,  50  East  Washington  street; 
J.  McLene,  Bates  House  block;  Craft  &  Cutter,  24  East  Washington  street;  F.  M, 
Herron,  16  West  Washington  street;  J.  H.  Colclazer  &  Co.,  14  East  Washington 
street;  Henry  Daumont  &  Co.,  15  West  Washington  street.  (The  business  of  the 
latter  does  not  comprehend  watches,  jewelry,  &c.,  but  embraces  clocks,  paintings, 
pictures,  picture  frames,  &c.) 

LEATHER,   BELTING,    HIDES.    40. 

The  first  wholesale  business,  of  any  moment,  in  leather,  bides,  &c.,  was  inaugu- 
rated by  D.  Yandes  &  Co.,  in  1850.  Like  most  other  branches  of  trade,  this  has 
grown  in  a  few  years  to  large  proportions.  The  transactions  last  year  aggregated 
$458,297. 

In  some  respects  the  business  of  the  past  year  was  quite  profitable  to  those 
engaged,  and  in  others  only  slightly  so.  Unlike  the  previous  two  or  three  yearsi 
187C  brought  considerable  profits  to  tanners  of  sole  leather.  Production  was  much 
smaller;  and  the  market  was  kept  in  light  supply  at  quite  remunerative  prices- 
Manufacturers  of  upper  leather  found  it  a  less  prosperous  year.  The  high  prices 
of  previous  years  had  so  stimulated  production  that  the  supply  has  generally  been 
greater  than  the  demand.  To  tanners  of  rough  leather  also,  the  year  was  not  a 
profitable  one.  Jobbers  of  leather  did  a  large  business  during  the  year;  but  profits 
were  at  no  time  better  than  moderate ;  often  very  slender. 

The  rapid  advance  in  French  stock,  by  reason  of  the  war  between  France  and 


HOLLOWATS  INDIANAPOLIS. 

Prussia,  did  not  benefit  dealers,  as  might  be  supposed,  because  the  stocks  held  at 
the  breaking  out  of  the  hostilities  stated  were  generally  small,  and  the  advance  in 
prices  here  has  been  fully  equalled  by  the  advance  at  the  sources  of  supply. 

In  domestic  leathers,  calf-skins  were  affacted  by  the  rise  in  the  French  article, 
and  advanced  in  price.  As  to  heavy  leathers,  the  prices  declined  somewhat  during 
the  year. 

As  to  hides,  there  was  an  advance  in  prices  up  to  July ;  since  that  time  prices 
have  been  steady  and  well  sustained. 

Bark  ruled  higher  than  for  several  years  past.  As  to  belting,  the  market  was 
steady,  without  material  alteration  in  prices. 

The  principal  dealers  are:  D.  Yandes  &  Co.,  dealers  in  leather,  hides,  &c.,  76 
East  Washington  street;  J.  E.  Mooney  &  Co.,  dealers  in  leather  hides,  leather  and 
rubber  belting,  Ac.,  147  South  Meridian  street;  Hide,  Leather  and  Belt  Co.,  125 
South  Meridian  street;  J.  K.  Sharpe,  dealer  in  leather,  hides,  boots,  shoes,  &c., 
47  and  49  South  Delaware  street. 

LIQUORS. 

The  beginning  of  the  wholesale  trade  in  distilled  liquors,  in  this  city,  may  be 
dated  about  the  year  1846.  Among  the  earlier  wholesale  dealers  was  Patrck  Kir- 
land,  succeeded  by  Kirland  &  Fitzgibbon.  The  first  house  that  made  systematic 
efforts  to  establish  a  wholesale  trade,  by  sending  out  traveling  agents,  etc  ,  was  Kir- 
land  &  Ryan,  in  the  year  1859. 

In  I860  there  were  in  the  city  the  following  wholesale  dealers:  Kirland  & 
Ryan,  Ruschaupt  &  Bals,  and  Elliott  &  Ryan.  The  aggregate  sales  at  wholesale 
that  year  were  not  far  from  $100,000.  This  business  has  increased  many  fold  in 
recent  years. 

The  principal  establishments  at  this  date  are,  T.  F.  Ryan,  Gapen  &  Gather- 
wood,  Ryan  &  Holbrook,  Hahn  &  Bals,  John  C.  Brinkmeyer,  J.  P.  Stumph  &  Co., 
C.  Kaufman,  Schwabacher  &  Selig,  Rikhoff  &  Co.  The  aggregate  transactions 
of  the  year  1870  are  reported  at  $2,807,087.  The  business  of  the  year  was 
a  considerable  increase,  in  bulk,  over  that  of  previous  years,  though  the  aggregate 
sum  realized  was  less,  by  reason  of  the  reduction  in  the  government  tax  from  $2  to 
50  cents  per  gallon.  The  effect  of  a  more  thorough  collection  of  the  tax  on  spirits 
has  had  the  effect  to  prevent  violent  fluctuations  in  prices.  For  this  reason  dealers 
have  been  able  to  do  a  safe  business.  The  seven  hundred  and  seventy  grain  dis- 
tilleries of  this  country  have  a  producing  capacity  of  over  two  hundred  millions 
gallons  annually;  while  the  consumption  is  not  over  eighty  millions  gallons. 
Consequently  there  has  been  an  excessive  production;  the  market  has  been  over- 
tocked,  and  prices  brought  down  below  the  remunerative  point.  The  aggregate 
losses  of  distillers  during  the  year  1870  would  considerably  exceed  their  aggregate 
profits;  though  these  losses  have,  to  some  extent,  been  compensated  by  the  profits 
on  the  hogs  fed  by  the  distillers. 

The  price  of  raw  highwines  reached  its  lowest  decline  late  last  summer ;  when 
it  was  75@76  cents.  Since  then  it  has  rallied  to  98  cents,  and  is  now  about  90  cents, 
and  steady  at  that  figure. 

In  imported  brands  of  whisky,  brandy,  etc.,  the  readjustment  of  the  tarriff 
has  brought  an  average  decline  in  proportion  to  the  average  reduction  of  the 
duties  on  these  articles.  As  to  imported  wines,  the  European  war  interfered  with 
their  exportation  to  this  country,  producing  considerable  advances  in  prices.  On 


TRADE.  379 

champagne  wine  there  was  a  temporary  advance  of  nearly  one  hundred  per  cent. 
The  conclusion  of  peace  between  France  and  Germany  has  removed  the  restric- 
tions upon  exportation,  and  prices  have  about  returned  to  the  old  standard. 

1IVE  STOCK. 

By  location,  this  city  is  entitled  to  be  one  of  the  leading  live-stock  markets  of 
the  West ;  that  it  has  not  that  prominence  is  due  simply  to  the  failure  to  employ 
adequate  means  to  utilize  natural  advantages ;  and  the  prominence  that  has  been 
attained  has  been  in  spite  of  the  latter  default.  Without  adequate  yards  for  the  recep- 
tion of  live  stock,  there  can  be  no  market  of  consequence. 

In  1865,  Mr.  E.  W.  Pattison  established  the  first  yards  in  this  city  for  the  recep- 
tion of  live  stock.  With  no  previous  provision  of  this  character,  it  is  readily 
understood  that  prior  to  that  date  there  could  be  no  live  stock  market  here.  Local 
purchasers  secured  their  supplies  in  the  country,  and  as  no  provision  was  made  for 
sellers,  there  was  nothing  here  for  shippers  to  buy.  The  live  stock  that  would 
naturally  have  been  unloaded  and  penned  here,  passed  through  the  city  to  such 
points  as  had  the  requisite  conveniences  for  holder  and  purchaser. 
*  The  effect  of  Mr.  Pattison's  enterprise  was  to  supply,  through  his  yards,  suffi- 
cient stock  for  the  city  demand,  with  now  and  then  a  surplus  of  a  carload  or  so  for 
purchase  on  Eastern  account.  The  improvement  in  receipts  was  in  proportion 
to  the  improvement  in  accommodations,  both  far  short  of  what  they  might  have 
been.  In  1867,  Mr.  Pattison  disposed  of  his  yards  to  J.  C  Ferguson  &  Co.,  for  many 
years  extensive  pork  packers  at  this  point.  About  this  time,  at  the  solicitation 
of  the  butchers  here,  Messrs.  Kingan  &  Co.,  opened  more  extensive  yards  near 
White  River,  between  Maryland  and  Georgia  streets.  The  firm  of  Kingan  &  Co., 
who  still  own  these  yards,  is  composed  of  Samuel  and  Thomas  D.  Kingan,  who,  by 
the  extent  of  their  investments  and  operations,  their  extensive  Eastern  and  foreign 
connection,  and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  trade  in  live  stock,  and  the 
products  thereof,  were  well  qualified  to  inaugerate  and  carry  out  the  necessary 
measures  for  bringing  the  holder  and  purchaser  together  here — to  make  the  city,  in 
a  larger  sense  than  before,  a  live  stock  market.  The  location  selected  for  their 
yards  was  advantageous ;  especially  easy  of  access  for  shippers  from  the  West, 
whence  come  nearly  all  the  stock  brought  here;  easy  of  acccess  for  stock  driven 
in  to  the  city  on  foot ;  convenient  and  cheap  of  access  for  butchers ;  and  suffi- 
ciently commodious  for  all  the  demands  upon  them. 

Early  in  1871,  the  Pittsburg,  Cincinnati  $  St.  Louis  Railway  Company  purchased 
a  site  of  twenty-two  acres,  at  a  cost  of  $40,000,  in  the  Eastern  suburbs  of  the  city 
and  have  since  occupied  a  portion  of  the  ground  for  live  stock  yards,  which  are 
now  in  operation,  but  owing  to  their  greater  distance  from  the  center  of  the  city, 
the  bulk  of  the  stock  sold  here  are  yarded  at  Kingan's  pens.  The  effect  of  the 
establishment  of  these  yards  has  been  to  make  a  live  stock  market  of  Indianapolis, 
but  still  a  local  market  chiefly. 

What  is  yet  needed  to  give  this  city  the  true  place  among  the  live  stock  mar- 
kets of  the  country,  to  which  it  is  naturally  entitled,  is  the  opening  of  extensive 
Union  Stock  Yards,  like  those  at  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  and  Cincinnati,  in  which  each 
of  the  railroads  converging  here  should  have  a  proprietary  interest,  and  to  which 
should  be  shipped  all  the  live  stock  sent  in  this  direction  over  these  roads — just  as 
all  the  live  stock  sent  to  market  from  the  North-west  for  instance,  are  sent  to 


HOLLOWATS  WDIANAPOLIF. 

Chicago,  and  tbere  sold  for  local  consumption  and  shipment  to  the  East.  This 
•would  make  Indianapolis  a  prominent  shipping  and  receiving  point,  instead  of,  as 
now,  a  receiving  point  on  a  small  scale,  compared  with  what  it  might  be. 

The  establishment  of  such  an  enterprise  has  several  times  been  attempted,  but 
•without  success,  because  of  the  opposition  of  two  of  the  Kailway  Companies,  who 
obj  acted  to  benefiting  the  city  in  this  way  at  the  expense  of  losing  a  supposed  mono- 
poly in  the  bulk  of  the  carrying  trade  in  live  stock. 

The  resultant  benefits  of  such  an  enterprise  to  our  financial  and  commercial 
interests  would  obviously  be  very  great;  and  for  this  reason  it  would  be  liberally 
aided  by  our  merchants.  Even  if  the  Western  railway  companies,  who  carry  four- 
fifths  of  the  live  stock  shipped  from  the  surrounding  country,  should  combine  in 
such  an  enterprise,  self-interest  would  impel  the  other  roads  to  come  into  the  com- 
bination. 

Beef  Cattle. — The  foregoing  observations  on  the  live  stock  market  here  suffi- 
ciently indicate  the  past  and  present  magnitude  and  needed  improvements  of  the 
cattle  market.  The  establishment  since  1865  of  the  several  live  stock  yards  "be- 
fore mentioned,  has  brought  to  the  city  the  supply  needed  for  the  local  demand, 
with  something  of  an  excess,  at  times,  for  the  eastern  demand.  With  improved 
accommodations  and  facilities  in  the  way  of  yards  will  come  proportionally  aug- 
mented receipts  and  shipments.  The  year  1870  was  characterized  by  increased  re- 
ceipts and  a  steady  market.  The  variation  in  prices  from  the  beginning  to  the  end 
of  the  year  was  not  more  than  1  cent  per  Ib.  The  higest  price  for  prime  was  8 
cents;  the  lowest  7.  Fair  butchers'  stock  ranged  from  3^  to  5  cents.  During  the 
first  four  months  of  the  present  year  prices,  as  compared  with  those  at  the  close  of 
last  year,  have  declined  on  an  average  about  J  cent,  per  Ib.  The  quotation  of  8 
cents  given  above  applies  to  the  best  grade  seeking  this  market.  The  grade  quoted 
as  "  extra "  in  Chicago,  represents  the  very  choicest  selections  from  the  cattle 
brought  there,  a  quality  that  is  not  shipped  to  this  point,  and  is  worth  about  1  cent 
per  Ib.  more  than  the  best  grade  of  the  offerings  here.  The  price  of  beef  has  not 
receded  toward  the  ante-war  level  as  rapidly  as  those  of  other  commodities.  This  has 
been  due  to  the  excessive  consumption  during  the  war,  a  waste  that  it  has  taken 
years  to  repair.  The  figures  appended  will  show  the  approximate  business  in 
cattle  at  this  point  for  the  year  ending  November  1,  1870 : 

Beeves:  sold  for  city  consumption,  16,000;  valued  at  $960,000.  Shipped,  5,000 
head  ;  valued  at  $400,000.  Yeal  calves:  sold  for  local  demand,  2,000  head;  valued 
at  $20,000.  Total  value,  $1,380,800. 

Hogs. — In  spite  of  the  wants  mentioned  in  the  previous  remarks  on  the  live 
stock  trade  in  general,  this  city  has  for  a  number  of  years  been  a  prominent  hog- 
slaughtering  and  pork-packing  point.  For  the  reasons  mentioned  it  is  not  a  ship- 
ping point  to  a  commensurate  extent,  but  chiefly  a  receiving  point  for  supplying 
the  wants  of  local  packers  and  butchers.  Surrounded  by  an  extensive  agricultu- 
ral and  stock-growing  country,  largely  developed,  and  with  the  most  complete  rail- 
way  system  on  the  continent,  this  city  is  entitled  to  be  one  of  the  largest  live 
stock  markets  and  packing  points  in  .the  West;  and  could  readily  command 
a  supply  of  250,000  to  300,000  hogs  annually  if  it  had  the  requisite  packing  estab- 
lishments and  requisite  inducements  and  opportunities  in  the  matter  of  yards,  &c. 
The  packing  establishments  at  this  point  are : — 

Kingan  &  Co.;'  J.  C.Ferguson  &  Co.;  Wheat,  Fletcher  &  Coflin;  Lesh,  Tou- 


TSADS.  381 

sey  k  Co.     These  establishments  employ  and  represent  an  aggregate  investment  of 
$1,250,000,  and  employ  an  average  aggregate  of  239  hands. 

There  were  packed  here  for  the  year  ending  November,  1870,  about  75,000 
hogs;  worth  about  $2,000,000.  To  this  add  about  30,000  head  slaughtered  and 
packed  by  butchers  for  city  consumption,  and  worth  about  $75,000.  Total  number 
for  the  year,  105,000.  Total  value,  $2,750,000. 

The  hog  crop  of  the  past  season  throughout  the  West  was  an  increase  of  about 
56  per  cent,  over  that  of  the  previous  season.  The  increased  per  cent,  of  the  crop 
handled  here  was  much  greater  than  even  this.  The  number  packed  here  during 
the  past  season  (beginning  with  November,  1870,  and  ending  April  28,  1871)  was 
112,500,  against  59,600  for  the  same  time  the  previous  year. 

The  average  weight  the  past  season  was  240  Ibs.;  for  the  previous  season,  about 
210  Ibs.  Consequently  the  increase  in  pounds  this  season  over  the  season  before  was 
more  than  100  per  cent.  The  average  weight  during  the  past  season  was  the  heaviest 
for  ten  years  past.  The  average  price  was  about  $6.00,  live  weight,  against  $10.00 
for  the  previous  season.  The  number  yet  to  be  packed  up  to  November  1st  will 
probably  reach  45,000  head,  making  the  aggregate  for  the  year  157,500  head,  against 
75,000  for  the  year  ending  November  1,1870. 

The  pa-t  year  and  the  opening  months  of  the  present  year  have,  generally  speak" 
'ng,  been  profitable  to  those  who  promptly  disposed  of  their  products,  and  unprofit- 
able' to  persistent  holders  for  higher  prices.  The  Southern  demand  has  not  been 
what  was  anticipated,  and  the  war  in  Europe  failed  to  bring  the  expected  foreign 
demand  and  advance  in  prices.  In  the  aggregate  operators  lost  more  than  they 
made. 

Sheep. — From  the  reasons  given  in  the  foregoing  remarks  concerning  live  stock 
in  general,  it  will  appear  why  transactions  in  sheep  here  chiefly  relate  to  supplying 
local  wants.  The  annual  shipments  from  this  point  are  probably  10,000  head  per 
annum.  The  sales  for  home  consumption  here  during  the  year  ending  November 
1st,  1870,  aggregated  75,000  head;  value,  $150,000.  To  this  add  10,000  head 
shipped,  valued  at  $'20,000.  Total  number,  85,000  head;  total  value,  $170,000. 

The  range  of  prices  for  sheep  during  the  year  1870  was  $2  00@4  00  per  head 
lambs,  $1  2n@2  50.     Prices  were  steady  for  the  greater  part  of  the  year,  with  an 
upward  movement  toward  the  close.     Comparing  the  closing  prices  of  last  year 
with  those  current  at  the  end  of  the  fourth  month  of  1871,  an  advance  of  fifty 
cents  to  one  dollar  is  shown. 

LUMBER. 

This  city  is  known  as  the  greatest  "  hard  lumber  "  market  in  the  country.     It  i 
situated  in  the  center  of  a  large  area  of  territory  heavily  set  with  valuable  timbe 
whose  resources  in  that  respect  have  but  recently  begun  to  be  utilized  for  purpos 
of  commerce.     While  the  timber  of  the  older  states  approaches  exhaustion,  or  ha 
already  reached  that  state,  an  extensive  area  in  this  State  possesses  an  affluence  of 
lumber  wealth  that  has,  in  many  sections,  only  commenced  to  flow  into  the  channels  of 
commerce.     As  each  new  railway  has  been  built,  new  lumber  regions  have  been  pene- 
trated, and  outlets  for  the  resources  opened.     Nature  and  the  railroads  have  thus 
made  this  the  leading  market  of  the  country  for  the  more  desirable  grades  of  hard 
lumber — walnut,  oak,  ash,  etc.,  and   for   poplar.     Enormous   quantities  of  these 
varieties  of  lumber  are  shipped  from  this  point  to  supply  the  demand  from  the 
Atlantic  cities  and  other  points. 


BOLLO  WA  TS  INDIA  NA  POLI8, 

As  to  pine  and  similar  species  of  soft  lumber  not  indigenous  to  this 
region,  this  is  an  importing  rather  than  a  supply  market.  Large  quantities  of  pine 
lumber  are  imported  here,  chiefly  for  local  building  and  manufacturing  purposes. 
The  carrying  trade  in  pine  lumber  of  the  railways  connecting  this  city  with 
Chicago  and  Michigan  City  is  very  large,  amounting  to  between  four  and  five 
thousand  car  loads  from  the  latter  point  alone. 

The  aggregate  transactions  of  the  lumber  dealers  of  this  city  last  year  are 
reported  at  $1,294,469.  Principal  lumber  dealers  are  the  following  : 

Streight  &  Wood,  McOord  &  Wheatley,  Bunte  it  Dickson,  Coburn  &  Jones, 
Emerson  &  Beam,  Warren  Tate,  H.  W.  Hild«brand,  Isgrigg  &  Bracken,  Cornelius 
King,  George  W.  Hill,  Charles  Donellan,  Eberts  &  Owens,  Long  &  Carter,  J. 
Marsee  &  Son,  J.  T.  Presley. 

METALS    AND    TINNERS*    STOCK. 

This  business — disconnected  from  the  kindred  merchandise  of  stoves,  tinware, 
etc. — is  of  quite  recent  establishment  in  this  city — the  pioneer  house — that  of 
Thomas  Cottrell,  having  been  established  but  a  few  years  ago.  Prior  to  that  time, 
and  in  a  considerable  degree  yet,  this  branch  of  trade  is  conducted  by  the  stove  and 
tinware  houses. 

Being  yet  a  young  business,  the  annual  transactions  therin  have  not  yet  attained 
the  magnitude  of  other  departments  of  the  city's  commerce.  The  transactions  of 
last  year  are  estimated  at  $420,000 — a  considerable  increase  over  the  business  of  the 
previous  year.  The  range  of  prices  was  lower  than  during  the  previous  year. 
Quotations  are  steady,  and  the  shrinkage  in  values  has  evidently  pretty  aearly 
reached  the  minimum. 

The  leading  houses  are,  Thomas  Cottrell  and  Messrs.  Ransdell  &  Grubbs.  Eve- 
rything in  the  nomenclature  of  this  branch  of  business  can  be  found  here,  in 
qualities  and  prices  equal  to  the  best  inducements  of  outside  competition. 

MILLINERY,    *C. 

The  present  large  and  growing  business  in  Millinery  goods,  and  the  few  years 
in  which  it  has  been  established,  is  an  eloquent  representative  of  the  commercial 
growth  of  the  city 

The  first  wholesale  house — that  of  J.  W.  Copeland — was  established  in  1856. 

The  area  of  territory  now  occupied  by  Indianapolis  dealers  in  this  department 
of  trade  corresponds  very  nearly  with  that  occupied  by  other  leading  branches 
of  trade,  dry  goods,  groceries,  &c.;  and  this  area  is  constantly  being  extended. 

The  business  of  the  past  year  has  been,  in  respect  of  amount,  encouraging ; 
showing  an  increase  of  about  20  per  cent.  The  increase  of  capital  was  about  the 
same.  Generally,  prices  at  the  close  of  the  year  showed  an  advance  over  those  at 
the  opening  of  the  year.  In  domestic  goods,  there  was  an  advance  in  most  articles: 
particularly  in  straw  goods.  As  to  imported  goods,  the  advance  was  quite  appre- 
ciable, owing  to  the  war  in  Europe. 

Profits  during  the  year  were  fair,  but  collections  were  more  difficult,  though 
the  per  cent,  of  bad  debts  made  was  judiciously  small.  The  present  year  augurs 
an  improvement  on  last  year's  trade. 

The  principal  wholesale  establishments  are  those  of  J.  W.  Copeland  &  Co.,  116 
South  Meridian  Street;  and  Fahnley  &  McCrea,  131  South  Meridian  Street.  The 
transactions  of  1870  in  this  department  of  trade  aggregated  $400,554. 


TRADE. 
MTTSIC   AND   MUSICAL   INSTRUMENTS. 

The  trade  in  music  and  musical  instruments  has  grown  to  be  a  very  consider- 
able feature  of  the  general  commerce  of  the  city.  In  1844  the  first  piano  was  sold 
in  this  city.  In  1850  the  first  music  store  was  opened  by  Albert  E.  Jones.  The 
present  extensive  house  of  Willard  &  Co ,  was  established  in  1853.  The  next  im- 
portant addition  to  this  interest  was  the  opening  of  the  present  well  known  house 
of  Benhara  Brothers,  in  1862.  For  many  years  the  business  was  altogether  in  the 
retail  way,  and  chiefly  local.  In  recent  years,  sharing  the  general  prosperity  of  the 
city,and  aided  by  the  greatly  increased  popularity  of  musical  science,  this  business  has 
multiplied  many  fold,  and  an  extensive  jobbing  trade,  covering  a  large  area  of  ter- 
ritory, is  being  done.  Recently,  too,  the  manufacture  of  pianos,  etc  ,  was  instituted 
and  is  now  prominent  among  the  industries  of  the  city.  Every  variety  of  musical 
instrument  and  of  musical  merchandise,  a  list  far  too  long  to  be  mentioned  in  this 
place,  can  be  obtained  here  at  wholesale  or  retail,  with  the  best  inducements  as  to 
prices  and  qualities  that  can  be  anywhere  offered.  The  aggregate  value  of  reported 
transactions  last  year  in  this  branch  of  business  was  $394,000.  The  principal  houses 
are  Benham  Brothers,  36  East  Washington  Street;  Charles  Soehner,  36  East  Wash- 
ington Street;  A.  G.  Willard  &  Co.,  No.  4  Bates  House  Block;  M.  A.  Stowell,  No. 
46  North  Pennsylvania  Street.  Manufacturers,  Indianapolis  Piano  Manufacturing 
Company,  297  South  New  Jersey,  and  salesroom  ^Etna  building,  North  Pennsylva- 
nia street. 

Benham  Brothers  and  Professor  Soehner  occupy  the  same  location.  The  former 
do  a  general  business  in  all  descriptions  of  musical  instruments  (except  pianos) 
musical  merchandise,  musical  publications,  etc.  Professor  Soehner  deals  in  pianos 
exclusively,  and  is  the  State  agent  in  this  city  for  the  Steinway  and  Knabe,  Pianos. 

NOTIONS. 

The  Notion  trade  in  this  city,  though  young  in  years,  is  extensive  in  amount 
and  importance.  For  the  most  part,  it  is  the  creation  01  the  past  ten  years.  The 
aggregate  of  sales  last  year  was  $1,083,650  ;  which  shows  a  very  gratifying  growth. 

The  business  of  the  year  last  past  has  been,  in  the  main,  one  of  prosperity: 
showing  an  increase  of  about  20  per  cent,  over  that  of  the  previous  year,  and  a 
corresponding  increase  of  capital.  The  shrinkage  in  values  continued  throughout 
the  year:  for  which  reason  profits  were,  on  an  average,  rather  slender.  It  is 
believed  that  the  downward  course  of  prices  has  about  reached  the  lowest  point; 
and  that  prices  will  be  steady  during  the  current  year  at  the  present  figures 

The  leading  houses  engaged  in  this  branch  of  trade  are:  Byram,  Cornelius  & 
Co.,  Fahnley  &  McCrea,  Fortner,  Floyd  &  Co.,  L.  Ludorff  &  Co.,  Murphy,  Johnson 
&  Co.,  John  D.  Evans  &  Co.,  Stoneman,  Pee  &  Co. 

PICTURES,    FRAMES,    &C. 

The  different  grades  of  art  productions  embraced  above  in  the  general  term  of 
Pictures,  are  well  represented  in  establishments  here  devoted  to  that  line  of  trade. 
In  some  respects  a  better  and  ampler  variety  is  offered  than  could  be  found  in  any 
other  western  city. 

Paintings. — At  the  well-known  establishment  of  Lieber  &  Co.  there  may  be 
found  the  works  of  the  more  eminent  artists  of  this  and  other  countries.  Occa- 
sionally there  are  auction  sales  of  the  more  costly  paintings  that  have  failed  to  find 


BOLLOWATS  INDIA SA POLIS. 

purchasers  at  private'sales.  An  extensive  and  costly  collection  of  imported  paint- 
ings from  the  celebrated  Dusseldorff  gallery,  was  thus  disposed  of  last  autumn. 
Patrons  are  yet  comparatively  few  for  this  class  of  works  of  art.  But,  as  is  the  rule 
in  new  countries,  the  numh  ;r  of  purchasers  for  this  clasa  of  works  of  art  would 
admit  of  a  considerable  increase. 

Engravings — In  this  respect  there  is  claimed  for  the  dealers  in  this  city  a  better 
and  more  various  display  than  is  offered  by  any  other  western  city.  There  can  be 
Been  here  at  all  times  full  collections  from  France,  England  and  Germany,  as  well 
as  from  our  own  country. 

Chiomos. — In  this  respect  it  is  sufficient  to  observe  that  about  every  chromo 
known  to  the  trade  may  be  had  here. 

Lithographs. — Of  this  cheaper  class  of  pictures,  plain  and  colored,  there  is  the 
fullest  display. 

Photographs. — There  is  nothing  in  this  line  that  cannot  be  found  here. 

Frames,  etc. — The  stocks  contain  pretty  nearly  everything  in  this  line  that  can 
be  found  in  the  market  in  this  country.  The  reported  transactions  for  the  past 
year  were  §110,000.  The  principal  houses  are  :  H.  Lieber  &  Co.,  Daumont  &  Co., 
R.  P.  Crapo.  The  former  two  are  wholesalers  and  retailers  of  pictures,  frames, 
etc.;  the  latter  is  a  dealer  in  frames,  mouldings,  photographers  stock,  etc. 

QTTEENSWARE,   GLASSWARE,    ETC. 

The   wholesale  trade  in   this  branch  of  merchandise  was  begun,  in  a  small 
way,  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  ago,  by  Jacob  Lindley.     So  slow   was  the  growth 
of  the  business  that  in  1860  Mr.  Lindley  was  still  its  only  wholesale  representa- 
tive.    The  busidess  is  now  represented  by  the  following  leading  establishments: 
Hawthorne,  Morris,  &  Gorrell,  38  South  Meridian  street ;  Patterson  &  Co.,  127  Sout 
Meridian  street;   John  Woodbridge  &  Co.,  36  South  Meridian  street;    Hollweg 
Reese,  96  Houth  Meridian  street;  Geo.  H.  West,  57  West  Washington  street.     The 
increase  of  capital  invested,  and   extension  of  the  trade  during  the  past  seven  or 
eight  years  has  been  very  great. 

The  area  of  territory  tributary  to  this  market  has  been  greatly  extended  on 
every  hand,  and  within  these  limits  a  large,  desirable,  and  constantly  increasing 
trade  has  been  permanently  established- 

The  business  of  the  past  year  shows  an  increase  over  the  previous  year  o 
bout  fifteen  per  cent. 

In  queensware,  the  greater  portion  of  which  is  of  foreign  production,  th 
shrinkage  in  prices  was  in  proportion  to  the  decline  in  the  gold  premium. 

In  glass  ware,  prices  were  steady  during  the  year.  Collections  during  the 
year  were  not  so  readily  made  nor  so  closely  kept  up  as  might  be.  The  sales  for 
the  year  amounted  to  $365,000. 

This  year's  business  opens  out  with  promising  indications  of  a  prosperous  year.* 

*  In  the  foregoing  remarks  concerning  Trade,  the  expression  "  the  past  year,"  relates  to  1870 
and  reference*  to  the  business  of  "  the  present  year,"  relate  to  the  opening  months  of  1871. 


TRADE.  385 

SEWING   MACHINES. 

Within  a  very  few  years  the  sewing  machine,  from  being  esteemed  by  the 
mass  as  a  fanciful  article,  of  doubtful  utility,  and  destined  only  for  a  privileged  few> 
has  became  one  of  the  cardinal  necessities  of  every  family.  Having  now  become 
indispensable  to  the  family  and  to  the  manufacturer  of  clothing  of  whatever  kinds 
the  trade  in  sewing  machines  at  this  point  has  come  to  be  a  commanding  feature  of 
its  commerce. 

The  growth  of  the  business  here  is  even  considerably  greater  than  the  relative 
growth  of  the  business  generally.  For  the  commercial  advantages  of  this  city  have 
made  it  a  central  distributing  point,  supplying  and  controlling  the  trade  of  most  of 
this  State  *nd  of  portions  of  adjoining  States. 

The  earliest  agencies  established  here  were  by  the  Wheeler  $  Wilson  and  Singer 
Companies,  about  the  year  1857.  As  new  inventions  multiplied,  and  the  sewing 
machine  became  popularized,  agencies  were  established  from  time  to  time,  until  now 
all  the  better  inventions  are  represented  here — generally  by  agencies  having  control 
of  a  large  area  of  territory,  extending  in  some  instances  into  adjoining  States.  The 
magnitude  of  the  sewing  machine  business  in  this  city  may  be  seen  from  the  re. 
ported  sales  for  1870 — about  $600,000.  The  following  companies  have  agen- 
cies here: — 

The  Singer,  by  Messrs.  "Wm.  K.  Nofsinger  and  A.  K.  Josselyn ;  the  Wheeler  &, 
Wilson,  by  Messrs.  L.  B.  Walker  &  Co.;  the  Grover  &  Baker,  by  Wiley  &  Van> 
Buren  ;  the  Howe  by  Messrs.  Olin  &  Foltz;  the  Florence  by  J.  W.  Smith;  the 
Weed  by  Jas.  Skarden  &  Co.;  the  Button-Hole,  C.  E.  Cardell  &  Co. 

The  sewing  machine  trade,  which  is  destined  to  attain  a  far  greater  magnitud, 
in  the  country  at  large  than  it  now  has,  is  sure  to  have  a  much  larger  proportionate- 
increase  here.  For  apart  from  the  superior  location  of  this  city  in  a  commercial: 
way  for  the  distribution  of  the  machines  over  a  large  extent  of  territory  in  every 
direction,  the  facilities  for  obtaining  suitable  lumber  for  the  cabinet  work  of  machines 
at  the  cheapest  figures,  is  attracting  the  establishment  of  manufactures  here.  The 
Wheeler  &  Wilson  Company  have  already  established  an  extensive  branch  manu- 
factory in  the  eastern  suburb  of  the  city,  and  others  are  likely  to  follow.  The- 
course  of  prices  as  to  the  more  meritorious  inventions  has  been  steady,  ranging  from, 
$65  to  $165,  according  to  style  of  finish.  Prices  of  sewing  machines  did  not  par- 
take of  the  general  inflation  during  the  war;  consequently  there  has  been  little  or 
no  shrinkage  in  values  since. 

STOVES,  TINWARE,  KTC. 

The  first  manufacturers  and  wholesalers  of  stoves  and  tinware  in  this  city  were 
the  firm  of  J.  K.  &  D.  Root,  who  began  operations  in  1851.  In  that  year  their 
aggregate  sales  were  about  $10,000.  In  1860  the  same  firm  was  still  without  con- 
siderable opposition,  and  that  year  their  transactions  reached  $103,000. 

If  -during  the  first  ten  years  this  interest  prospered  but  indifferently,  its 
growth  in  the  past  few  years  has  quite  compensated  for  the  slow  progress  of  the 
former  period.  By  comparing  the  transactions  of  1851,  amounting  to  no  more 
than  $15,000,  with  those  of  1870,  aggregating  $850,000,  a  remarkable  increase  is 
shown. 

By  the  above  caption  is  embraced  a  great  variety  of  articles  usually  classed  under 
the  heads  of  "stoves,  tinware,  and  house-furnishing  goods" — stoves  and  the  numer- 
(25) 


HOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

ous  products  of  iron,  tin,  etc.,  too  numerous  to  be  detailed  in  this  mention,  but  made 
or  sold  here  in  the  widest  variety,  and  of  the  most  approved  qualities  and  styles. 
In  nearly  every  class  of  goods  of  this  general  description  there  was  a  steady, 
decline  in  prices  during  1870,  averaging  ten  per  cent.  Collections  were  better 
than  the  average  during  the  year,  but  the  present  year  opened  with  a  change  for 
the  worse  in  this  respect.  The  principal  establishments  are :  D.  Boot  &  Co. 
manufactory  183  South  Pennsylvania  street;  salesroom  66  East  Washington  street; 
Tutewiler  Bros.,  74  East  Washington  street;  Johnson  Bros.,  62  East  Washington 
street;  Charles  Cox,  57  West  Washington  street;  K.  L.  McOuatt,  61  &  63  Wes 
Washington  street;  Frankem  &  Kline,  34  East  Washington  street;  Meyers  & 
Martin,  257  West  Washington  street;  J.  Voegtle,  103  East  Washington  street 
C.  Zimmerman,  35  South  Alabama  street;  Wolfram  Bros.,  197  East,. Washington 
street. 

TOBACCO,  CIGARS,  ETC. 

The  first  to  engage  in  the  wholesale  tobaceco  business  and  in  the  manufacture 
of  cigars  exclusively,  of  whom  we  find  any  record,  was  George  F.  Meyer,  at  his 
present  place  of  business,  in  1850. 

Though  this  branch  of  commerce  and  manufactures  developed  slowly  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  it  has  in  recent  years  risen  to  great  consequence.  The  bulk  of  the 
business  *n  cigars  is  now  represented  by  dealers  who  are  also  manufacturers.  The 
manufacture  of  tobacco  in  any  considerable  degree  is  represented  by  two  establish- 
ments :  Smith  &  Thomas,  and  Thomas  Madden  &  Co.  The  former  firm  makes  plug 
tobacco,  which  meets  a  ready  demand,  not  only  from  Western  dealers,  but  from  job- 
bers in  the  principal  Eastern  cities.  Mr.  Madden  manufactures  fine-cut  tobacco, 
which  has  already  attained  great  favor  with  the  trade.  The  transactions  of  1870 
aggregated  $1,659,301. 

The  various  grades  of  tobacco  and  cigars  are  abundantly  represented  here  by  a 
great  number  of  manufacturers  and  wholesale  dealers.  The  business  of  1870  shows 
a  good  increase — 10@,15  per  cent.  Profits,  however,  for  the  last  two  or  three  years 
have  been  very  small,  smaller  perhaps  than  those  of  any  other  branch  of  manufac- 
ture, and  too  small  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  capital  employed,  and  to  the 
magnitude  of  the  transactions.  The  heavy  government  tax  on  these  articles,  much 
larger  than  their  separate  value,  necessitates  a  very  large  capital  for  the  handling 
and  carrying  of  stocks.  The  government  tax,  the  high  price  of  labor  maintained  by 
the  operatives'  Unions,  and  the  enhanced  cost  of  the  leaf,  have  kept  up  prices  and 
diminished  profits.  This  is  particularly  true  of  the  common  grades  of  cigars,  on 
which  the  profits  of  manufacturers  have  not  greatly  exceeded  7  per  cent. 

As  to  imported  cigars,  prices  were  well  sustained  during  1870,  but  afterward 
slightly  declined.  As  a  compensation  for  diminished  profits,  collections  were  good 
during  the  year. 

The  following  are  the  principal  establishments  in  this  line:  Manufacturers  of 
cigars  and  dealers  in  cigars  and  tobacce— A.  W.  Sharpe,  Geo.  F.  Meyer  &  Co^ 
Mayer  &  Bros.,  Charles  C.  Hunt,  C.  M.  Raschig,  C.  C.  Hunt,  Solmon  *  Garratt, 
George  Koswinkle,  A.  W.  Reynolds,  Clemens  Back,  Uhl  &  Durham,  S.  F.  Reynolds, 
Peter  Kretsch. 

Tobacco  Manufacturers — Smith  &  Thomas,  Thomas  Madden,  Charles  Oliveri 
Dealers  in  Tobacco  and  Cigars — J.  C.  Green  &  Co.,  J.  W.  Lines  &  Co.,  J.  A. 
McGaw. 

The  greatly  increased  consumption  of  wool  by  the  mills  in  this  city  has  proper- 


TSADE.  387 

WCOL. 

tionally  augmented  the  bulk  brought  to  this  market.    The  aggregate  receipts  fo 
1870  were  about  5,000,000  Ibs.;  worth  about  $200,000. 

This  article  has  shared  the  general  shrinkage  in  values  since  the  close  of  the 
war.  The  average  prices  in  1870  were:  for  washed  and  picked,  48  cents;  un- 
washed, 30  cents.  Though  the  price  of  wool  has  been  gradually  declining  during 
the  past  few  years,  its  price  is  still  comparatively  higher  than  the  prices  of  the* 
products  made  from  it. 

Agriculturists  and  stock-growers  in  this  State  have  of  late  taken  great  interest 
in  improving  the  breed  of  their  sheep,  and  they  have  had  an  excellent  return  for 
their  trouble  and  outlay.  The  average  sheep  in  Indiana  to  day  is  a  very  different 
animal  from  that  of  ten  years  ago,  securing  a  breed  that  unites  superior  size  and 
quality  of  mutton  with  a  fleece  double  the  usual  quantity,  and  best  adapted  to  the 
manufacture  of  the  gaades  of  woolen  fabrics  most  in  use.  Merino  sheep  are  com- 
paratively few  in  number  in  this  State,  because  unprofitable.  Indiana  is  noted 
among  wool  dealers  and  operators  for  its  clean,  tub-washed  wool  of  the  common  and 
medium  grades,  being  in  general  much  more  thoroughly  washed  before  it  is  sent  to 
market  than  is  the  rule,  and  therefore  more  acceptable  to  purchasers. 


3QQ  BOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 

STATISTICAL   EXHIBIT, 

Showing  the  aggregate  value  of  sales  of  leading  articles  of  merchandise  by  Indian- 
apolis dealers  for  the  year  1870  : 

Agricultural  Implements $755,687 

Beef  Cattle  1,380,000 

Books  and  Stationery 556,000 

Boots  and  Shoes - 1,709,000 

Bakeries 193,700 

Carpets  and  Wall  Paper 510,000 

Clothing 1,779,805 

Coal  550,000 

Confectioneries , 190,508 

Cigars  and  Tobacco 1,659,300 

Dry  Goods 4,542,000 

Drugs  and  Medicines 1,661,600 

Eggs 291,580 

Furniture 749,000 

Grain 3,745,000 

Groceries  '. 6,443,151 

Hardware  and  Iron 3.500,000 

Hogs  2,750,000 

House  Furnishing  Goods 850,000 

Hats  and  Caps 412,000 

Jewelry 195,000 

Leather  and  Belting 458,290 

Lumber 1,294,469 

Liquors 2,807,087 

Music  and  Musical  Instruments 394,000 

Millinery  and  Fancy  Goods 400,558 

Notions  1,083,651 

Paints,  Oils,  &c 726,150 

Pig  Iron 771,600 

Poultry 207,000 

Queensware 365,000 

Saddlery  Hardware 318,000 

Sewing  Machines 563,753 

Sheep , 170,000 

Wool 200,000 


Total $44,182,889 


REAL  ESTATE.  3Q9 

REAL    ESTATE. 

The  rapid,  steady  advance  in  the  value  of  real  estate  in  and  near  the  city  is 
the  best  index  to  its  present  prosperity,  and  to  the  confidence  felt  by  business  men 
in  its  future  growth.  This  advance  is  a  maAed  feature  in  the  recent  real  estate 
transactions,  and  prices  for  years  have  almost  constantly  tended  upward. 

The  selection  of  this  place  as  the  State  Capital  in  1821,  temporarily  inflated 
the  values  of  real  estate;  but  as  no  highways  to  the  town  then  existed,  prices 
receded  and  few  transfers  were  made,  until  the  internal  improvement  scheme,  in 
1836.  This  caused  a  feverish  activity  in  transfers  and  a  rapid  rise  in  prices  for  a 
year  or  two;  but  on  the  failure  of  the  public  works  values  again  declined,  and  no 
demand  existed  for  property  till  the  opening  of  the  Madison  and  Indianapolis  Rail- 
road, in  1848,  at  last  gave  the  city  an  outlet.  The  improvement  may  be  said  to 
date  from  that  year ;  but  it  was  not  until  the  completion  of  the  State  Railway  sys- 
tem, in  1853-4,  that  the  advance  became  sufficiently  great  to  attract  attention. 

Up  to  that  time  business  had  been  confined  to  two  or  three  central  squares  on 
Washington  street,  and  the  choice  locations  there  did  not  command  more  than  $75 
to  $100  per  front  foot,  while  the  remainder  of  the  city  plat  was  held  only  for  resi- 
dence or  farming  purposes,  and  most  of  it  valued  at  not  more  than  $100  per  acre. 
Under  the  effects  of  the  railway  system,  however,  prices  soon  doubled  in  the  central 
parts  of  the  city,  while  the  advance  in  outside  property  was  very  much  greater. 
Subdivisions  of  the  various  out-lots  in  the  old  plat  were  rapidly  made,  and  many 
additions  were  laid  off  outside  of  it,  and  the  advance  in  price  continued  quite 
steadily;  for  though  checked  by  the  bank  failures  in  1854-5,  and  the  commercial 
panic  of  1857,  the  values  attained  before  these  checks  were  at  once  increased  as 
soon  as  the  pressure  was  removed. 

This  lasted  till  the  war  brought  business  matters  to  a  dead  stop,  and  for  two 
years  prices  were  comparatively  unchanged,  transfers  were  few,  and  little  activity 
existed  in  the  trade.  The  best  business  locations  on  Washington  street  would  com- 
mand $400  or  $500  per  foot,  while  outside  property  had  gone  far  beyond  the  ad- 
vance in  the  central  portions.  In  the  year  1863  a  rapid  increase  again  began,  and 
by  the  end  of  the  war  prices  on  Washington  street,  for  choice  locations,  had  reached 
$1,000  per  front  foot,  and  in  many  portions  of  the  suburbs  values  were  ten  fold 
higher  than  three  years  before.  These  figures  received  a  decided  check  on  the  sud- 
den cessation  of  the  war,  and  values,  especially  in  the  outside  property,  receded  to 
some  extent,  while  the  transfers — except  to  settle  claims — rapidly  diminished  in 
number ;  but  this  was  an  experience  felt  in  all  the  cities  of  the  country  ;•  and  in 
none  other  was  the  check  so  temporary  as  at  this  point.  The  figures  prevailing  at 
the  beginning  of  1865  were  soon  resumed  in  most  parts  of  the  city,  and  though  not 
much  activity  prevailed,  there  was  little  or  no  diminution  in  the  prices  asked  for 
lots. 

In  1868  another  advance  began,  which  has  steadily  continued  to  the  present 
time,  and  has  recently  been  so  marked  and  startling  as  to  awaken  the  fears  of  many 
persons  that  it  is  unhealthy  and  feverish,  and  that  a  rebound  must  ensue.  This  ad- 
vance has  mainly  been  in  outside  property,  for  though  choice  locations  on  Wash- 
ington street  would  probably  bring  $1,500  to$l,800  per  foot,  the  advance  on  former 
figures  there  is  trifling  compared  with  that  in  the  suburbs,  where,  in  many  places, 
100  per  cent,  advance  is  asked  and  given  in  a  few  months. 

Sub-divisions  comprising  over  two  thousand  two  hundred  building  lots  have 
been  made  and  put  in  market  thus  far  in  1871,  and  the  demand  seems  to  anticipate 


390 


HOLLOWAY'S  INDIANAPOLIS. 


the  supply.  The  activity  in  real  estate  transfers  has  been  constant  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  year,  averaging  thus  far,  probably,  $160,000  per  week  ;  and  the  excite- 
ment seems  increasing  as  time  rolls  on. 

The  comparative  activity  of  the  real  estate  trade  at  the  different  periods  here- 
inafter stated,  may  be  inferred  from  the  aggregate  amounts  of  the  transfers  for 
the  several  years.  These  were  for  1850,  $217,991  61 ;  for  1860,  $1,111,492.08;  for 
1870,  $5,223,865.18  ;  and  for  the  first  six  months  in  1871,  $3,992,175.70. 

The  assessment  of  real  property,  in  this  city,  for  taxation  has  always  been 
much  below  the  selling  prices,  and  of  late  years,  by  reason  of  the  rapid  advance, 
the  discrepancy — especially  in  the  newer  pirts  of  the  city — is  too  glaring  to  admit 
of  any  defense,  other  than  that  the  improvement  is  too  rapid  for  an  annual  assess- 
ment. The  following  table,  therefore,  does  not  give  the  actual  values  at  any 
period,  and  especially  at  the  present;  for  we  may  safely  say  that  the  selling  rates 
•would  almost  double  the  aggregate  values  reported  for  1870 — but  the  tables  will 
show  how  steady  and  decided  the  improvement  has  been  during  the  last  twenty 
years : 

The  assessment  of  real  and  personal  property  in  1847  amounted  to  about  f  1,000,000 

In  1850 2,326,185 

In  1853 ; ; 5,131,582 

In  1856 7,146,676 

In  1858 10,475,000 

In- 1860 10,700.000 

In  1862 10,250,000 

In  1863 10,750,000 

In  1864  13,250,000 

In   1865 10,144,447 

In  1866 24,231,750 

In  1867 21,943,605 

In  1868 23,593,619 

In  1870 25,981,267 

In  1871 '...  28,516,215 

The  foregoing  table,  and  the  facts  above  mentioned,  will  show  that  the  advance 
in  real  estate  at  Indianapolis  is  no  evanescent  matter,  but  that  it  has  been  steady, 
solid,  and  permanent.  The  rapidity  in  the  late  increase  may  be  considered  by  many 
as  an  unsound  indication,  but  the  facts  thus  far  do  not  seem  to  point  that  way;  but 
on  the  contrary,  would  indicate  that  the  city  has  but  just  entered  on  its  full  career, 
and  that  its  future  greatness  is  assured  beyond  all  doubt. 


YOU  ARE  GOING 


WEST  or  SOUTH 


INDIAN  APOLIfl 


| 


T. 


Via  Greencastle, 

Terre  Haute, 

Mattoon, 


and  Pana. 

\at  TERRE  HAUTE  for  Viacennes 
land  Evansville,  at  MATTOON  and 
/PANA  with  Illinois  Central  R.  H.  for 
;  all  p  ints  North,  Northwest  and  South 
I  AtSr.  Louis  with  Pacific,  North  Mis- 
Isouri  and  St.  Louis  &  Iron  Mountain 
'  Railroads  for  the  West  and  South. 


For  Quick  Time  and  Close  Connections 

PASSENGERS  AND  SHIPPERS 

K&onld  take  this   OfcB   EM£cIJlB£iE   ROUTE, 
E.  N.  WOODWARD,  President. 


WEST. 


- 


MILES  THE  SHORTEST, 


O  EXPRESS  TRAINS  leave  Indianapolis  daily,  except  Sunday,  for  ST.  LOUIS 

and  THE  WEST. 

The  ONLY  line  running  PULLMAN'S  celebrated  DRAWING-ROOM  SLEEP- 
ING CARS  from  NEW  YORK.  P1TTSBURG,  LOUISVILLE, 
CINCINNATI,  and  INDIANAPOLIS,  to 

ST.  LOUIS  WITHOUT  CHANGE. 

Passengers  should  remember  that  this  is  the  GREAT  WEST  BOUND  ROUTE 

for  KANSAS  CITY,  LEAVENWORTH,  LAWRENCE,  TOPEKA, 

JUNCTION  CITY,  PORT  SCOTT  and  ST.  JOSEPH. 


EMIGRANTS  TO  KANSK, 


for  the  purpose  of  establishing  themselves 
in  new  homes,  will  have  liberal  discrimi- 
nation made  in  their  favor  by  this  line.  Satisfactory  commutation  on  regular  rates  will 
be  given  to  Colonist*  •"•fed  large  parties  traveling  together;  and  their  baggage,  emi- 
grant outfit  and  stock,  will  be  shipped  on  the  most  favorable  terms,  presenting  to 
COLONISTS  AND  FAMILIES  such  comforts  and  accommodations  as  arepreseiited 
by  no  other  Route. 


can  be  obtained  at  all  tiie  principal  Ticket  Offices  in  the 
Eastern,  Middle,  and  Southern  States. 

ROBT.  EMMETT,  C.  E.  FOLXETT. 

Eastern  Pass.  Agt.,  Indianapolis.  Gen.  Pas*.  Agt.,  St.  Lout*. 

JOHN  E.  SIMPSON, 

Gen.  Supt.,  Indianapolis. 


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405  Hilgard  Avenue,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90024-1388 

Return  this  material  to  the  library 

from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


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A  A      000018966    2 


